Red Panda Cub Colouring

This climbing family is made up of an adult red panda and one curious cub. Red pandas live in cool mountain forests along the eastern Himalayas and in southwestern China, including parts of Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China. Although they share a name and a love of bamboo with giant pandas, red pandas belong to their own animal family. Their flexible ankles can turn in a way that helps them climb down tree trunks headfirst, and their sharp curved claws provide a secure grip on bark. A red panda’s body is about 50 to 64 centimetres long, with a magnificent ringed tail that may add another 28 to 59 centimetres. Most weigh around 3 to 6 kilograms. In the wild they often live about 8 to 10 years, while some in human care reach their teens. Red pandas usually rest in trees during the day or in warm weather. A mother shelters her tiny cubs in a nest made inside a hollow tree, rock crevice, or other protected place. As a cub grows, it follows her outside and practises balancing, climbing, and searching for bamboo leaves, berries, fruit, eggs, or insects. Colour the fur rusty red, cinnamon, or warm orange. Use dark brown or nearly black on the legs and belly, and leave the pale facial markings cream or white. The long tails look wonderful with alternating orange and lighter tan rings. The moss can be bright green or yellow-green, while the tree bark may combine browns, greys, and a little olive. Add several shades of green to the leaves and use pale blue-grey or lavender on the distant mountain shapes. Start with the tails, carefully following each outlined ring. Use crayons for the big furry sections and pencils for whiskers, claws, eyes, and tiny leaf shapes. Colour in the direction of the fur strokes to make the coats look soft. Keep the two animals different from the tree by choosing contrasting colours, and leave small white highlights in their eyes. Your finished page can show how a young red panda learns to explore the forest one careful climb at a time.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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Choose a favourite colour palette
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Grown-up note: Please supervise printing and choose age-appropriate art materials.