Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Fire Cat

Another photo that I grabbed when I was saving a few more photo files and deleting the other day. Took this photo of one of the Red Pandas at the Calgary Zoo on 20 April 2012. I miss seeing these gorgeous animals, but their part of the Zoo is on the island and so is still closed to the public because of all the damage from the Alberta Flood of the Century in June.

Not very good quality, but it's usually next to impossible to get even half-decent captures of these beautiful Red Pandas. They are either running around their grassy enclosure or else asleep, up in their wooden treehouse (usually the latter, it seems, when I happen to be there). This one was asleep in the treehouse, but opened its eyes for just a minute or two and looked over to where I was standing. These endangered animals, seen at the Calgary Zoo on 21 August 2012, don't like the heat.

The endangered Red Pandas at the Calgary Zoo are usually either asleep in their treehouses or moving non-stop around their enclosure. If you are really lucky, they might stop for just a moment! "The Red Panda, also called the Firefox, Fire Cat, Lesser Panda, or Ailurus fulgens ("shining cat"), is a mostly herbivorous mammal, specialized as a bamboo feeder. It is slightly larger than a domestic cat (40 - 60 cm long, 3 - 6 kg weight). The Red Panda is endemic to the Himalayas in Bhutan, southern China, Pakistan, India, Laos, Nepal, and Burma. There is an estimated population of fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. Their population continues to decline due to habitat fragmentation... In southwest China the Red Panda is hunted for its fur and especially for its highly-valued bushy tail from which hats are produced. In the areas of China where the Red Panda lives, their fur is often used for local cultural ceremonies and in weddings the bridegroom traditionally carries the hide. The 'good-luck charm' hats are used by Chinese newlyweds." From Wikipedia. -2C (windchill -8C) early this morning. Forecast is for snow flurries this afternoon and tonight, but only 1-3 cm expected.

Sorry, yet another Red Panda photo, but I thought this one was rather cute : ) Both animals were on top of one of their "tree houses" this afternoon and it was snowing and this one looked so cuddly and playful. Decided to go over to the Zoo early afternoon, as I had been walking all morning near the Bow River so was half way to the Zoo already. The sun refused to come out and it started to snow - plus there are a lot of slippery patches on the paths at the Zoo - like everywhere else at the moment : )