Red Pandas in Mountain Forests
A small animal rests high in a tree. Its thick, red-brown fur blends with the branches. It is a red panda!
Red pandas live in mountain forests in Asia. Some live in the Himalayas, a high mountain range. These forests are cool and damp, with plenty of trees.
A red panda has a long, bushy tail with rings. It can wrap its tail around itself to help keep warm. Sharp claws help it grip branches as it climbs.
Red pandas spend much of their time in trees. They rest on branches and can climb down to the ground, too. A red panda may look for food in the morning or evening.
One of its main foods is bamboo. Bamboo is a plant with tall, hollow stems and thin leaves. Red pandas eat lots of its leaves. They may also eat fruit, insects, and other small animals.
A red panda has a special wrist bone that acts a bit like a thumb. It helps the panda hold bamboo while it eats.
Red pandas and giant pandas share a name and both eat bamboo. But they are not the same kind of animal. Giant pandas are bears. Red pandas belong to a different animal family.
Red pandas need healthy forests for food and shelter. When forests are cut down, red pandas have less space to live. Protecting mountain forests helps give them room to climb, rest, and find food.
- damp:
- A little wet.
- claws:
- Sharp, curved nails on an animal's feet.
- grip:
- To hold on tightly.
- shelter:
- A safe place to stay.
- Protecting:
- Keeping something safe from harm.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where do red pandas live?
- 2What is the main topic of the passage?
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About this explanatory article passage for Lower Elementary
“Red Pandas in Mountain Forests” is a explanatory article reading passage about Red pandas, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (237 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.