Bamboo-specialist herbivores persisting in human-dominated landscapes: Assessing habitat and connectivity of Chinese red pandas (Ailurus styani)

• Habitat is highly fragmented with low quality, driven by human activities and climate change. • Only 47.75% of the suitable habitat is covered by the Giant Panda National Park. • Eleven core habitat patches were identified, with 29.1% being conservation gaps. • Twelve key ecological corridors are proposed to enhance critical connectivity. • Findings highlight urgent needs for targeted conservation and habitat restoration. The habitats of the Chinese red pandas ( Ailurus styani ) have been significantly reduced and fragmented in human-dominated landscapes. Scientific habitat assessment, corridor planning, and identification of conservation gaps are essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of this bamboo-dependent species. To address these issues, we used Ensemble and InVEST models to analyze the distribution and quality of habitats for Chinese red pandas in southwestern China, with a particular emphasis on core habitat connectivity and conservation gaps. Our results indicate that the habitats are not only highly fragmented but also of low quality, with human disturbance and climate change identified as the primary drivers of habitat degradation. Of the total 12,219.5 km 2 of suitable habitat, only 47.75 % falls within the boundaries of the Giant Panda National Park. We identified 11 core habitat patches covering a total area of 3,767.7 km 2 , of which 70.9 % are protected, leaving 1,102.9 km 2 as conservation gaps that require urgent protection and restoration efforts. Additionally, we designed 12 cost-effective ecological corridors connecting these core patches, with an average length of 29.1 km, which should be prioritized in future conservation planning. Our findings highlight that the Chinese red pandas in southwestern China survives in a highly fragmented landscape with weak connectivity. This study enhances the accuracy of identifying conservation priority areas and protection gaps, and recommends that the existing Chinese red pandas populations be managed as a regional metapopulation to ensure their long-term survival in human-dominated landscapes.