Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) is a highly endangered species and belongs to the family Ailuridae, order carnivora. It is an interesting animal having adapted to a diet of bamboo leaves in nature. The animal was first described by celebrated French naturalist Federeic Cuvier in 1825. Red panda is known to be distributed at an altitude between 2200-4800 m., mainly in the eastern Himalayan Belt ranging from Nepal through northern part of West Bengal, Sikkim and Nagaland in the west. Some are also found in Bhutan and extreme Himalayan Belt of Burma and in Sichuan and Yunan in western China.

	Pandas are found in the northern parts of West Bengal, Sikkim etc

There is only one species under the genus Ailurus, fulgens styni (the Red Panda of China) are known. The divergence between the two species appears to have occurred some three million years ago, when torrential river courses originated in the rising mountain ranges during the formation of the Himalayas, creating the deep and wide valley of the Brahmaputra. Although the exact origin of the word 'Panda' is not known, the Red or Lesser Panda received its name after the Giant Panda had already been described. Its scientific name Ailurus, fulgens is diverted from its morphological feature Le, Ailurus meaning 'cat like' and fulgens meaning 'brilliantly coloured'. It has several regional names such as : Sankar (Lepchal ; kundo (Nepali) and updongka (Bhutia). Phylogenetical evidences based on fossil records, serology, karyology, behavioural biology, .anatomy, physiology and reproduction indicates closer affinities of the Red Panda with Procyonidae than with Urisidae. Since its ecological and digestive specialisations are quite distinct from other species endemic in the region, it has been placed in a separate family, Ailuridae under Procyonidae.

To date there is no information, on the number of Red Pandas survivingin their natural habitats. Available data indicate that they are rare, occurring only at low densities and that their habitat is itself endangered. The species is internationally protected by the Washington Convention [CITES, Appendix-III. Nevertheless more field research is urgently required to establish its precise status and to help us design the best ways to protect it.

It is enlisted as an endangered species in India On Schedule-II Wildlife under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. As a result of human encroachment in forest habitat as well as suitable. habitat destruction, deforestation and destruction of the ecosystem, draining of wetland, conversion of shrub land into grazing land, the urbanization/suburbanization process and the construction of dams and highway net works seriously degraded and destroyed suitable habitats of Red Panda thereby causing depletion of its population in the wild. Hence it is very important to conserve this animal in the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas.

Several methods are adopted to conserve endangered species out of which conservation under captive breeding is an important one. Most Zoological Gardens in the world including Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological park (the only one in the country having Red Panda with captive breeding programme) are today largely self-sufficient in terms of knowledge pertaining to proper care, maintenance and breeding of some threatened species in semi-natural habitats. Some of the zoos have also successfully reintroduced the animal to the wild thus playing a very important role in conservation. Reintroduction is necessary to counter the deleterious effects of probable genetic homozygosity, of the usually small and fragmented populations in the wild As the populationi are diminishing in the wild, we are trying to raise their population in captivity under. semi-natural condition and subsequently we will plan to release them following the acclimatization in their natural habitats, so that minimum viable population urgently necessary for saving them from extinction is achieved.

	Since its ecological and digestive specialisations are quite distinct from other species endemic in the region , it has been placed in a separate family, Ailuridae under Procyonidae.

While there is a history of scientific interest, conservation and welfare of captive literature to attest to the achievements of some individuals and institutions, many zoos evolved from menageries and private collections, and most zoos until the last two decades were set up for frivolous reasons, such as entertainment and recreation.

The need for making conservation as one of the main objective for management of zoos was realised by Government of India soon after independence and the Indian Board for Wildlife made important recommendation from time to time in this regard. It also set up a expert committee on management of zoos in November, 1972. The recommendations of the committee were accepted by the government in June, 1973. These recommendations are very pertinent for improving the management of zoos even today. The National Wildlife Action Plan of 1980 again emphasised the role of exsitu conservation in the national conservation efforts.-However, because of varied ownership patterns and divergent nature of animal collection not much was achieved.

Today when wildlife habitats are under severe pressure and large number of species of wild fauna have become endangered, the zoos have not only to sustain their populations but also augment the depleting populations of endangered species in the wild. This new role has been duly acknowledged by the global conservation community and Article 9 of the Biodiversity Convention.

Zoos shall ensure availability of the highest standards of veterinary to all the animals in their collection. The zoos shall encourage research on the biology, behaviour, nutrition and veterinary aspects of animals in their collection. They shall also endeavour for creation of expertise on zoo architecture and landscape designing. Co-operation of recognised institutions already working in relevant fields in this regard shall be taken.

Zoos shall endeavour for transfer of technical skills available in the field for zoo personnel. the Central Government, Central Zoo Authority and State Government shall provide due support to zoos in these efforts. Assistance of Wildlife Institute of India IWIII, Indian Veterinary Research Institute IIVRII and other institutions within India and abroad, having appropriate expertise shall be taken in this regard.

All the items mentioned in the aforesaid paragraphs are relevant for survival of Red Panda whose population are steadily diminishing. If we can follow scientific conservation strategy for upkeepment of those rare species, their populations are surely going to increase specially in exsite condition. For example, Darjeeling Zoo has set up an example by increasing the population of Red Panda from 3 Nos. in 1990 to 22 Nos. in 2000.