(Watercolour, gouache, pen on paper, 11 x 14 in), 2021

Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) is not a bear at all.  It is slightly larger than a domestic cat with a bear-like body and thick russet fur.  They use their long, bushy tails for balance and to cover themselves in winter.  Red Pandas are endemic to China, Bhutan, Nepal and areas of northern India. The name panda is said to come from the Nepali word ‘ponya,’ which means bamboo or plant eating animal.  According to the IUCN Red List, the Red Panda is an endangered species.