Baseline Activity Patterns of Two Captive Red Pandas (A. f. styani) to Inform Future Conservation Translocations in Sichuan China

) is endemic to the southeastern slopes of the Himalayas. Following the successful translocations of captive-born giant pandas in China, plans have begun to release captive-born red pandas into their habitat where the two species coincide. In order to provide baseline activity data, as part of pre-release preparation, a pair of captive-born red pandas were trained to allow the placement of GPS collars mounted with triaxial accelerometers. Ten months of Overall Dynamic Body Acceleration data were collected from the accelerometers, which showed that the pandas were primarily diurnal and had an activity rate of 42.32% (95% CI: 41.67-42.97), similar to that of wild red pandas. The animals in this study differed from wild individuals in having a distinct tri-modal diel pattern related to the captive feeding schedule. Changes in this pattern may serve as an indicator of whether a captive individual is suitable for release, and post-release resumption of the bi-modal pattern seen in wild populations may serve as an indicator of an individual's adaptation to the wild. Though limited by the sample size, this study provides information for the management and preparation of captive red pandas for future translocations.