Photo Feature
Pandas Are Not Bears
<p><strong>Pandas Are Not Bears!</strong></p>
<p>Did you know that red pandas <em>Ailurus fulgens</em> are not bears? And the hugely popular giant pandas, however, are bears and are not related to the red panda you see on this page! These smaller, handsome mammals are actually related to raccoons, skunks and weasels! Like so many Himalayan species, red pandas are threatened by habitat loss and conservationists suggest that ethical tourism that benefits local communities directly, could help rewild local panda habitats. In India, red pandas can most reliably be seen in the Singalila National Park, West Bengal.</p>
<p><strong>Photo: Arun Sivakumar/Sanctuary Photolibrary</strong></p>