My grandson, David, had a birthday coming up the end of April, so I asked his
dad for some ideas for 'grandma gifts'. The internet makes such requests
so simple these days, as my son easily posted a list of 'David Wants'
in a shared Wish List on Amazon. Among the suggested gifts were a set of artist pencils (David loves to draw
and is quite good), some Minecraft figures, and a plush red panda,
particularly this one pictured here by Cuddlekins of Wild Republic. I
was a bit surprised that David still liked stuffed animals at age nine.
I thought he might have outgrown them by now, but my son insisted it was one
of the gifts David was hoping for.
Cuddlekins Red Panda
Turned out, David did not expect he would get his plush Red Panda, so it was
a delightful surprise for him, as you can see by the expression on his face as
he opened it. I was particularly pleased with the quality of this stuffed animal. It
has smooth, red fur, a big bushy tail, white markings, and lifelike,
highly-detailed, realistic features. It's softly stuffed and measures 12
inches tall. You can see that it is a wonderful, hugable armful for a
9-year-old.
About Wild Republic
Wild Republic has been creating nature-related animals and educational toys
and gifts since 1979, with their specialty being their
realistic stuffed animals. The line of stuffed animals is extensive and includes just about any
animal you can imagine, including farm animals, jungle animals, sea creatures,
dinosaurs, reptiles and prehistoric animals, birds, butterflies & bugs and
dogs & cats. I am also pleased with how reasonably priced they
are. Their headquarters are in Twinsburg, Ohio, but they have offices around the
world and their international distribution serves zoos, museums, and
aquariums, as well as retailers. In addition to this plush Red Panda, Wild Republic has a whole line of these
cuddly wild animals which look like the real animal. They also carry a
line of gift items that are related to nature, such as jewelry, home décor and
seasonal items. You can visit the
Wild Republic Website here.
Sylvestermouse has a delightful article all about the 'real' red panda
which is filled with interesting photos and facts at
Reviewing What We Know About the Red Panda. (c) Review of the Wild Republic Cuddlekins Red Panda Plush by Wednesday
Elf
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
I really do love all of the animals at the zoo, but there is just something so sweet about the Red Panda.
For one thing, almost any time I see one at the zoo, it is alone. His solitary existence just seems to tug at my heart. He is so adorable that I always want to just reach in and grab that little cutie and give it a hug.
It breaks my heart to know that the Red Panda is endangered.
The beautiful Red Panda lives, eats and sleeps up in a tree. When it is cold, it will wrap itself with its gorgeous furry, ringed tail to keep warm. The Red Panda sleeps mostly during the day and forages for food at night. They eat fruit, berries, acorns, eggs. mushrooms and bamboo.
Because of his lovely red hair, he has also been named a Firefox and because he resembles a domestic cat, he has been called a Bear Cat and even Red Cat. Ironically, the Red Panda is not a bear, it is not a cat and it is not a fox. It is in fact in a family of its own. It is a Ailuride, part of the Musteloidea superfamily which includes the skunk, weasel and raccoon.
This endangered animal is still illegally hunted for his fur and even for his tail, which is considered a good luck charm.
A Few Facts About the Red Panda
Weight: 12 - 20 lbs
Length: 20 - 26 in.
Tail Length: 12 - 20 inches
Average Lifespan: 8 years
Lives in China, India, Myanmar & Nepal
ENDANGERED
This is an especially adorable video of two Red Pandas playing in the snow.
You will be able to see for yourself their tremendous ability to climb and hang in a tree and I know you will enjoy watching their antics in the snow as much as I do.
Where You Can See a Red Panda
Because Red Pandas are endangered, plus they are awesome at camouflaging
themselves within tree branches and leaves, it is rare to see one in the wild. However, many zoos care for Red Pandas. I highly recommend visiting a zoo sometime soon to see a Red Panda in person. I know you will simply fall in love with them!
Be sure to take your camera too! Once you spot a Red Panda, you will want to memorialize the moment with a snapshot, or perhaps a dozen or more. I always find it difficult to step away from these little sweeties. If he is sleeping, I always want to hang around until he wakes up. If he happens to be awake and moving around, I am simply mesmerized by his ability to slowly climb head first down a tree trunk. Makes me wish I had retractable claws!
Red Panda's on Binders, Mugs & More
I love photographing beautiful animals. Sometimes I offer those photos for sale on Zazzle products. The image of the Red Panda below is offered on several different products, including ornaments, mugs, posters and the featured binder.
Memphis Zoo in Memphis, Tennessee This
is my personal favorite simply because they have worked hard to provide
fabulous habitats for all of their animals instead of cages, although,
for our protection, so animals are behind glass or fence style
enclosures.
St. Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Missouri This is another of my personal favorite zoos to visit. The St. Louis Zoo proudly participates in the Species Survival Plan® (SSP) for red pandas.
The Sacramento Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo Home Page The Philadelphia Zoo, America’s first zoo, is a 42-acre Victorian garden that is home to more than 1,300 animals, many of them rare and
endangered.
The Birmingham Zoo - Inspiring Passion for the Natural World The Birmingham Zoo is Alabama's most popular not-for-profit attraction, drawing more than 450,000 visitors annually. Approximately 750 animals of 250 species call the Birmingham Zoo home, including sea lions, cheetahs and endangered species from six
How about you. Do you know a zoo that cares for Red Pandas. If so, please leave the name of the zoo in the guestbook below and I will add it to the list above. Everyone prefers a zoo near them. Plus, it is really cool to discover who helps these gorgeous creatures.
This article was originally published by me in 2009 on a site that is no longer in existence.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
