A red panda should not be kept as a pet. This is because it is found in the wild, has an unpleasant smell, and it is illegal to keep the red panda as a pet.
A native of Southwestern China and the Eastern Himalayas, the red panda has become an endangered species. However, even with such challenges, the species has made a spirited effort to survive.
Can you have a red panda as a pet
The red panda is one of the cutest animals you can ever meet. It boasts of a cherubic face as well as a beautifully patterned coat. They have a thick far to protect themselves from extreme cold- they are natives of places which are very cold.
Oliver Jones, gives one of the reasons why keeping the red panda as a pet is very difficult. Due to the fact that the red panda is an endangered species, authorities have made a strong effort to protect it. Rampant deforestation means that the natural habitats occupied by the red panda are being decimated gradually, pushing them out.
Despite this, the black market has continued to attack the animal. The authorities have rolled out concrete intervention measures thereby declaring it illegal to keep them as pets. Therefore, if you keep a red panda as a pet, you are going to have a big problem with the law.
The red panda is a predator. For example, if it is aroused from sleeping, it can attack anything that is moving. It is a wild animal and it cannot fit in the world of captivity. It would be correct to assume that the red panda can harm the elderly and the children. Again, if there is a rival panda in the vicinity, the red panda becomes very aggressive.
Another reason why it would be unrealistic to keep the red panda as a pet is that they are not comfortable in the house. Rather, they prefer climbing up the trees. In some cases, the red panda could find a home on the ground. The red panda is a solitary animal, and generally, it is a territorial animal.
Why You Should Not Keep the Red Panda as a Pet
The red panda is a nocturnal animal. When you sleep at night, it would be active, and when you are active during the day, the animal will want to sleep. With that schedule, it will not make a good pet.
The red panda is not going to feed on what you would find around your home or commercial food. Rather, the red panda prefers bamboo. The red panda can also feed on insects, small mammals, and bird eggs. Maintaining the red panda can be expensive. The diet by the red panda is a low-calorie diet. What this means is that it is going to require a large amount of food if it is to meet its daily calories requirements.
There are a few situations where you could be allowed to keep a red panda. One such scenario is if you are allowed to rehabilitate or breed wild animals. In a typical case, this takes place in a zoo. It should be noted that this is an ambitious thing to do; it is expensive and time-consuming. At the same time, you should try your best in order to avoid in-breeding. This is because in-breeding can lead to diseases.
Even in the case you manage to have a zoo, it would be a big problem if you decide to change houses or travel. In addition to that, should you decide to give up the animal, you are not going to find a host. This is because zoos do not accept the red panda. Cincinnati Zoo suggests that you should leave the red panda to stay where it feels comfortable- its natural habitat. (watch the video below)
Are Snow Leopards a Threat to Red Pandas in the Wild?
Snow leopards and red pandas coexist in the wild, but they do not pose a direct threat to each other. Snow leopards primarily prey on wild ungulates, while red pandas consume bamboo shoots and berries. However, habitat loss due to various human activities affects both species. Conservation efforts are crucial for their survival in the face of these challenges.
Conclusion
As a responsible citizen, you need to be part of the efforts of the conservation of the environment and saving planet earth. The planet is vulnerable to the negative effects of the black market. Therefore, you should follow the law and not try to have the red panda as a pet. By doing this, you will be keeping the animal in its natural habitat where it will have a higher chance of survival.