Standing at just .6m tall, the Painted Panda of the Great Forest of Kravis is not a very intimidating figure. Fluffy deep red and white patterned fur covers their body, making this one of the more cuddly looking animals that one could find on Ocheria. The standout feature of the Painted Panda is the extremely long and bushy tail present in both males and females of the species. The males tend to have longer tails, often 1.7m in length, and use them when displaying to rivals to win over potential mates. The female’s tails are a slightly shorter, 1.3m on average. These tails are so large that when quick movement is required, most Painted Pandas opt to carry them and run on their hind legs.
While pretty, the tails serve an extremely important function to the Painted Panda, all along the tail lie small pores that secrete an extremely poisonous liquid. This poison causes extreme respiratory failure and, without treatment, can lead to death in a matter of hours. While obviously an extremely useful defensive capability, most predators leave the Painted Panda alone in search of a less dangerous meal, the liquid also serves as a way for the Painted Panda to mark its territory. Travelers can tell if they’ve entered a section of forest occupied by these creatures if dark stains can be observed covering the trunks of trees. This darkening is caused by the poison and is how the Painted Panda got its name. By eating particular fruits, the color of the poison excreted will change drastically, so a very red fruit produces red colored poison, blue fruit, blue poison and so on.
This unique property has led to a booming market for the colored toxin which most often are used as the basis for extremely high quality paints and dyes. Some more eccentric artists keep numerous Painted Pandas as pets, keeping them on specific diets so that the artist can have a direct supply of colors at their disposal. Unsurprisingly, Painted Pandas are also popular pets with assassins, who coat their blades and arrows with the toxin before striking their target, all but guaranteeing a successful kill.
Other features on the Painted Panda are its “squinted eyes” and the two large white patches of fur over them that are mistaken for eyebrows. The Painted Pandas have three pads on their back feet that are best used for climbing the surfaces in the forest homes. The front paws have four pads that allow for limited manipulation of objects. The jaws of the Painted Panda hold a nasty surprise for the careless handler. In the back of their mouths sit four extremely sharp and powerful teeth used to crush their primary food source, the Clay Berry, an extremely tough fruit that hold a nutrient rich juice.
Perhaps the most impressive trait of the Painted Panda is their possession of a primitive social structure and budding intelligence. Most Painted Pandas live in groups of 15 or more with a clear ruler. This “chief” usually has the biggest tail of the group, and displays it proudly by hoisting it upright with bark and vines, with the vines strapped around the chest. The “chief” has also been observed taking control of situations and breaking up fights between other members of the group. Other signs of intelligence in the species include using sticks and rocks to assist in tasks, making “hats” from large leaves to protect themselves from rain, and somewhat defined roles in their groups. These roles include, food gatherer, scout, cub watcher, and chief attendant.
In groups only the chief is allowed to mate with females. During mating season, many hopeful males will challenge the chief’s rule and the pair will stand off, flicking their tails aggressively at one another. These stand offs can last for hours or even days, and a winner is decided when either the challenger or chief submits. Cubs are usually born in pairs and take several years to fully develop, staying close to their mother or the groups designated cub watcher.
When threatened with danger, several Painted Pandas will rush forward and begin to flick their tails towards the threat, spreading their poison in the process. Most assailants feel the effects of the poison quickly and retreat without having put up much of a fight. If an attacker continues, the entire group retreats to higher ground, pelting the pursuing individual with poison the entire way.
Perhaps the most startling sign of the Painted Panda’s intelligence is their apparent mourning over those in their group who die. Painted Pandas usually live an average 15-20 years in the wild. A deceased group member will be carefully wrapped in their own tail and then with vines, before slowly being lowered to the forest floor. Once placed there, the group will move approximately 2km away from the body. Studies from naturalists have observed that groups will not return to and area with a body for up to two years.
