The red panda is the original panda and first mammal observed to eat bamboo. The Nepalese word poonya meaning bamboo eater. The racoon panda has a naturally high death rate in the wild due to several natural predators.
Human beings, however, are the biggest threat to the red panda. Though poaching is illegal it remains an enormous problem.
In China, the fur of the red panda is considered a good luck charm in wedding ceremonies.
The agriculture and timber industries are taking away what little is left of the red pandas habitat, leaving them struggling to survive.
It is estimated there is fewer than 2500 in the wild and diminishing.
Proceeds go to The Red Panda Network, a non-profit organisation committed to preserving the red pandas habitat through empowering the local communities by education research and sustainable development.
10% from the sale of Mitta Mitta T-shirts go direct to The Red Panda Project. View website here
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