Red panda at the National Zoo

Feeds:: Posts; Comments

Red panda at the National Zoo

October 1, 2012 by Mike Powell

I photographed this red panda (Ailurus fulgens) this past weekend in Washington, D.C. at the National Zoo. According to Wikipedia, red pandas are native to the Himalayas and southwestern China. Like the better-known giant pandas, red pandas eat mostly bamboo, although they may also eat eggs, insects, birds, and small mammals.

I will probably post a few more shots of this red panda in the next few days, when I have gone through my zoo photos. However, I wanted to make a preliminary introduction of this delightful animal, suspecting that many of you may be unaware of the existence of a red panda. (Previously red pandas were classified in the families of racoons and bears, but now they have their own family and are the only extant species of the genus Ailurus.)

Red panda at the National Zoo

Posted in animals, Photography, wildlife, zoo | Tagged Ailurus fulgens, Canon 55-250mm zoom lens, Canon Rebel XT, National Zoo, portrait, Red Panda, Washington DC | 8 Comments

8 Responses

on October 1, 2012 at 3:14 pm | Reply kurt

Interesting capture!
- on October 1, 2012 at 3:27 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. This was one of several animals at the zoo that I was able to photograph without shooting through a wire fence or glass (and I found them to be incredibly cute).
  - on October 1, 2012 at 3:28 pm kurt
    
    Yes, great all around shot.
on October 1, 2012 at 3:41 pm | Reply cyndipachinophotography

stunning capture! I also was at the National Zoo this past weekend, and have several photos of this little cutie.
- on October 1, 2012 at 7:22 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  “Cutie” is the right word. I’ve been to the National Zoo a lot, but this is the first time since I started getting more serious about photography. I like the fact that the red pandas are a little off the beaten path, so I had plenty of time to enjoy them. (The other one was mostly asleep, but woke up before I left.)
on October 1, 2012 at 6:59 pm | Reply New Hampshire Gardener

I never knew there was a red panda. Interesting-thatnks for the introduction.
on October 4, 2012 at 10:12 am | Reply Sue

A really nice portrait!
- on October 4, 2012 at 8:31 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Sue, for all of your positive, encouraging comments.