Cute is Synonymous with Red Panda

The other day I received an email from one of our readers, Jay, who told me that “red pandas are sweet” and that was all I had to hear. So without further ado, here’s a little bit about one of the cutest creatures around: The Red Panda.

Typically growing to the size of a cat (except for their long tails which can get to be 18 inches long), the Red Panda doesn’t exactly resemble the black-and-white bear who shares its name. This guy is arboreal, and uses its long, bushy tail as a wrap-around blanket for warmth in the cold mountains where it lives. Young red pandas remain in their nests for about 90 days, during which time their mother cares for them but the dad doesn’t do much at all (LAME!).

Even though the Red Panda shares a portion of its name with another animal, it is a member of its own unique family – the Ailuridae. Unfortunately, these adorable creatures are endangered due to habitat loss and destruction. If you’re interested, you can donate to the Red Panda Conservation Network, by visiting this site.