May/June 2026 Paper 41

The red panda, Ailurus fulgens, is an endangered animal found in parts of Asia. Figure 6.1 shows a red panda.

Table 6.1 shows part of the classification of the red panda.

Complete Table 6.1 to show the red panda's domain, genus and species.

Most animals in the order Carnivora eat other animals. Red pandas have adapted to feed on a specialised diet of the leaves and shoots of bamboo plants. Suggest why red pandas are classified in the order Carnivora.

Many zoos around the world have been breeding red pandas for over 80 years. The total number of red pandas in these zoos is currently estimated as 1000 individuals. In the last 80 years the total number of red pandas living in the wild has halved to approximately 10 000 individuals. This is mostly due to loss of suitable habitat. In 2011, for the first time, red pandas that had been born in a zoo were released into the wild. Evaluate the success of efforts to conserve the red panda.

Only 30% of red pandas in zoos mate and produce offspring naturally. Many red pandas that are born in zoos die before they are 30 days old. For these reasons, zoos may use assisted reproduction. Outline how assisted reproduction methods help conserve red pandas.