2. W HY I C HOSE T HIS I chose Red Panda’s because they are a cool animal. I also chose them because they are very interesting and I thought it would be a fun topic.

3. I NTRODUCTION We need to save the red panda before it becomes extinct because there are only 2,500 left in the wild.

4. R ED P ANDA ’ S H ABITAT Red Pandas live in China, Assam, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Burma. They live in bamboo forests near the Himalaya Mountains. The bamboo forests are being cut down to build homes because of the increase in population. Himalaya Mountains

5. W HAT R ED P ANDA ’ S E AT They eat bamboo, birds, small mammals, blossoms, and berries. Bamboo Berries Blossoms

6. L ENGTH & W EIGHT A red panda is usually 22-25 inches long and it’s tail is usually 15-19 inches long. Male red panda’s weigh anywhere between 8-14 pounds and female red panda’s weigh 9-13 pounds.

7. R ED P ANDA CUBS When a red panda is born it usually weighs 110- 130 grams. There can be 3-4 cubs in a litter, and are born with their eyes closed that will eventually open. They are usually born in a whole in an old tree to protect them from predators. When they are at least four months old they start to look for food with their mother.

8. W HY A R ED P ANDA I S E NDANGERED The red pandas are an endangered species because they are being hunted for their fur and the loss of habitat. They are loosing their habitat because the increase in population so they are forced to cut down the forests they live in. They are being hunted for their fur because many mountain cultures use their fur for clothing and costumes.

9. H OW THE R ED P ANDA G OT I T ’ S N AME Red pandas got their name because they have a cat-like face and this is how they got their scientific name which is Ailurus Fulgens, and it means fire- colored cat. The word panda comes from the Nepalese word poonya and this means eater of bamboo. This is how they got the name red panda.

10. F ACTS There are two different kinds of Red Pandas. A red panda’s genus and species name is Ailurus Fulgens. A red panda can live to be 8-10 years old. There are only 2,500 red pandas left in the wild.

11. R ED P ANDA P REDATORS Red panda predators are snow leopards, humans, and martens. Snow Leopard Martens

12. D ESCRIPTIVE P ARAGRAPH The picture I’m describing has a red panda with a white face and head. It is also lying down on a tree trunk. It looks like it is about to fall asleep.

13. C ONCLUSION This is why we need to save the red panda species before it becomes extinct.