Demographic trends in a captive population of red pandas (Ailurus fulgens)

Birth and survivorship data based upon 39 litters born over a ten‐year period are examined and discussed. Reproduction in red pandas is characterized by seasonal breeding, small mean litter size, and relatively high survivorship of young, and in general follows a typical “K‐selected” life‐history strategy. The mean litter size was two, and the sex ratio at birth was approximately 1 male to 1.11 females. Higher male mortality in the early age classes resulted in a sex ratio in favor of females. Mortality was not correlated with age or experience of the mother but was found to be highly positively correlated with an increase in the inbreeding coefficient of the young. There was no significant difference in mortality among the different litter‐size classes, and in general mortality decreased with age. Recommendations concerning future management for the study population are given.