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Wildlife of Wolong: the 'vegetarian' carnivore
CGTN

Although technically carnivores, red pandas have turned "vegetarian," mainly feeding on bamboo shoots and leaves, sometimes fruits and flowers. They spend most of their lives on trees and live alongside giant pandas in Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

A red panda on a tree in Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province in autumn.

A red panda on a tree in Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province in autumn.

A red panda picking fruits on a tree.

A red panda picking fruits on a tree.

There are now two distinct red panda species: the Chinese red panda and the Himalayan red panda. They look almost the same. However, Chinese red pandas have redder fur and striped tail rings, while Himalayan pandas have whiter faces. In China, red pandas mostly inhabit southwest China's Sichuan and Yunnan provinces and Tibet Autonomous Region.

A red panda sunbathing on a tree.

A red panda sunbathing on a tree.

A red panda resting on a tree.

A red panda resting on a tree.

As the only species remaining in their taxonomic family, red pandas are worth attention and protection. They are now under second-class state protection in China.

For more:

Wildlife of Wolong: The solitary night hunter

Wildlife of Wolong: The 'rainbow' in the misty mountain

Wildlife of Wolong: The cute pika catcher

Wildlife of Wolong: The deer with 'vampire fangs'

(All photos taken by He Xiao'an, head of the Publicity Department of Wolong National Nature Reserve Administration in Sichuan Province)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)

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