I am writing this petition to raise awareness about the illegal trading of red pandas, and the need to protect them and their habitat.

Less than 10,000 red pandas are left in the wild. At wildlife markets, many are kept in small cages and left to die, killed for their fur or sold as pets.

In 2018, six red pandas were rescued from wildlife smugglers is Laos. It believed they were heading for the black-market pet trade.

Because a lot of people think red pandas are cute and cuddly, they think it’s a good idea to keep them as a pet. Red pandas are not a domestic animal. Red pandas have not been bred to live with humans and need a special diet. Many red pandas kept as pets die due to the lack of care.

With red pandas having such vibrant fur, they are also a target for people who kill them and trade their fur.

Deforestation is another big problem for the red pandas. With people expanding their towns and making room for more crops and livestock, many trees that red pandas depend on are being cut down. Those that survive are easily captured and sold at illegal wildlife markets.

There are many ways we can help the red pandas. Start off with donating to a wildlife organisations such as WWF www.wwf.org or Traffic www.traffic.org This could go to villages that do not have much money, so they don’t have to kill red pandas for money.

Please sign this petition to raise awareness about the illegal trading of red pandas. They really need your help.