Meet Miss June: The Red Panda

gabby_redpanda_05DALLAS, May 23, 2012/ — Taking a cue from pop culture’s preoccupation with the centerfold, well-known wildlife advocate Gabby Wild chose 12 animals from the endangered species list and try to save them with the “12 in 12 for 12” campaign.

To draw attention to these animals serious plight, Gabby, who is also a veterinary student at Cornell University, had teamed up with fashion designers to create clothes inspired by these endangered species.

For June, in honor of the Red Panda, designer Andy South, one of the final three contestants in Project Runway Season 8 designed a degradé red gown modeled by Gabby Wild herself.

Found in the Mountain ranges of western China (Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet provinces) and the Himalayan Mountain chain (Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Myanmar), the Red Panda faces extinction due to the loss of its habitat because of deforestation for timber, agriculture, and livestock grazing. This occurs even within national parks and wildlife reserves. Plus, the red panda is a favorite among poachers for its reddish-brown pelt.

To donate and learn more details please log on: www.gabbywild.com

Fashion Photos by Edward Colelli
Red Panda photo from the Wikimedia Commons