Differences Between Red Pandas and Giant Pandas in the Wild

The article compared the behavior of red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) and giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the wild with regards to foraging, daily and seasonal activity, and land use pattern. The purpose of the study was to improve understanding of the nature of the evolutionary relationship between the two species. A combined method of behavior observation and radio telemetry was used to gather the data. The giant pandas (3 males and 2 females) were radio-collared and studied between 1981 and 1983 and the female red panda in 1984 in a 35km2 area in the Wolong Reserve in China. The activity patterns of the red panda were recorded by taking readings from a motion-sensor fitted in the radio-collar once every month from February to November. The readings were taken every 15 minutes during a 72 hour period. Her approximate locations were estimated using the radio-collar and the sites were studied further in order to understand foraging and resting behavior. Because of the rarity and the density of the vegetation in its range, the red panda was only observed for a total of 3.2 hours on four different occasions. Fecal and vegetation samples were collected every month and analyzed to determine diet composition and the nutritional content. Comparisons in activity patterns were made mainly using data from the female red panda and a male giant panda whose home ranges overlapped. Vegetation mapping through the range and telemetry points provided insight on red panda habitat use.

There were similarities and differences between the two species of pandas. The diets of both red and giant pandas were made up of more than 99% bamboo. Although the red panda included small mammals and berries in their diet, 99.1% of what they ate was a bambo...

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...ription of the behavior of red panda in the wild. It was rather odd that the researchers conducted most of the comparisons using two animals of different sexes. Instead of comparing the results from the female giant panda, they used those from a male. The researchers should have tried to control for the influence on behavior of variables such as sex. It has been shown in many species that males and females have different foraging and territorial behavior and interact differently with other wildlife. Furthermore, a male red panda should have also been collared in order to determine whether there was sexual variation in foraging behavior and habitat use.

In conclusion, this study would have been more effective if more red pandas were radio-collared, actual physical sightings were improved and data were collected on both species simultaneously during multiple years.