International Red Panda Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about the endangered red panda species. It is observed on the third Saturday of every September, which this year falls on September 16.

International Red Panda Day was initially established by the Red Panda Network in 2010 to raise the alarm about the significant decrease in the population of this enigmatic creature found in dense forests of Asia. The red pandas are also known as the first categories among pandas as they were spotted 50 years prior to the black and white ones.

Red pandas were found in the southwest region of China and the eastern Himalayas. However, since the past few years, the population of the red panda has been steadily declining. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the red panda has been marked as an endangered species.

According to the IUCN’s list, India cumulatively accommodates around 5,000-6,000 red pandas. In India, the endangered red pandas are mostly found in the sanctuaries in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. These endangered animals are also found in West Bengal’s Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

International Red Panda Day 2023: History

The International Red Panda Day was initially established by the Red Panda Network in the year 2010, when there was a noticeable decline in the population of the species. After the establishment of the day, it was then celebrated on September 18, 2010.

The Red Panda Network is an NGO which is headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, United States. The organisation works in the betterment of the red pandas’. The NGO also trains the forest guards to raise awareness and empathy for the red panda.

International Red Panda Day 2023: Significance

The primary aim of International Red Panda Day is to educate about the importance of red pandas in the ecosystem. Red Pandas are usually found in Bhutan, Nepal, India, Myanmar and China. Unfortunately, the population of Red Pandas is declining to an alarming level. Hence, the day aims to raise awareness about the threats that red pandas are facing due to various factors like poaching, climate change and hunting.

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(Edited by : Anshul)