Current distribution, status and conservation of wild red pandas Ailurus fulgens in China

Abstract

The red panda is classed as a category II species under the Wild Animal Protection Law in China. Both subspecies, Ailurus fulgens fulgens and A. f. styani can be found there. However, the styani subspecies is more typical of the region. According to the survey conducted from 1994 to 1996, red pandas now can only be found in Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet. They have become extinct throughout the rest of their original range, e.g. in Guizhou, Gansu, Shaanxi and Qinghai provinces. The investigation shows that there are 76 245.5 km 2 of forest available within the current range, including 35 088.3 km 2 in Sichuan, 21 658.1 km 2 in Yunnan and 19 499.1 km 2 in Tibet, respectively. However, their habitat is only 37 436.5 km 2 (17 228.3 km 2 in Sichuan province, 10 634.1 km 2 in Yunnan province and 9574.1 km 2 in Tibet) because of a high preference for a particular habitat. It is estimated that their numbers may have decreased by as much as 40% over the last 50 years due to massive habitat loss, increasing human activity and poaching. Total population numbers estimated are about 6000–7000 in China, including 3000–3400 in Sichuan, 1600–2000 in Yunnan, 1400–1600 in Tibet. However, the Chinese government pays much more attention to wildlife protection today. It has launched a series of laws and regulations and established a lot of national reserves or parks as refuges for wildlife. To date 31 reserves have been established within the red panda's range: 18 in Sichuan, 7 in Yunnan and 6 in Tibet. These reserves together protect 15,864.9 km 2 of red panda habitat. This represents about 42.4% of the red panda's habitat in China.