the red panda a small arboreal mammal native to the himalayas facing conservation challenges

red panda himalayan arboreal mammal small native asia mountainous temperate forests reddishbrown fur long tail bushy distinctive facial markings conservation status habitat loss deforestation fragmentation climate change soil erosion leaf degradation specialized diet digestive system unique adaptations evolutionary pressures geographic isolation speciation adaptive radiation phylogeny taxonomy rare remote efforts antipoaching sustainable practices protection wildlife biodiversity environmental ecological importance animal threatened species biology niche endemic biological diversity evolving strategies survival population management