The main threat is habitat loss (deforestation), natural disasters, and poaching for their fur.

Red pandas largely forage in trees. Bamboo is their main food but they are omnivorous and will eat small mammals, eggs, flowers and berries. They cannot digest cellulose so must eat large amounts of bamboo in order to gain nutrition.

Red pandas are found in the Himalayas, in Nepal, Bhutan, China and small parts of India. Their habitat is temperate forest where bamboo is plentiful.

Red pandas are not bears. They belong to their own unique family – Ailuridae- and are probably most closely related to the group that includes weasels, raccoons, skunks.

Red pandas vigorously defend their territory so could be dangerous to humans if their territory feels threatened.

10 years in the wild, up to 15 years in human care.

It is difficult to estimate but it could be less than 10,000 mature adults. The population has decreased by about 50% over last 18 years.

There has been much debate over the classification of red pandas. Red pandas were originally placed in the same family as the raccoon and they have a similar bushy tail. Later they were classified with the giant panda. Following genetic studies, they are now placed in their own family.

The head and body is up to 60 cm long. The tail is up to 47 cm long.

Males weigh up to 6.2 kg and females weigh up to 6 kg.

Red pandas belong to their own unique family – Ailuridae- but are relatively closely related to mustelids such as weasels, skunks etc.

Red pandas are found in the Himalayas, in Nepal, Bhutan, China and small parts of India. Their habitat is temperate forest where bamboo is plentiful.

Red pandas are generally quiet but communicate by squeals and twitters.

Red pandas were originally placed in the same family as the raccoon and they have a similar bushy tail. Following genetic studies, they are now placed in their own family, but they are relatively closely related to raccoons.

Red pandas are nocturnal but are most active at dusk and dawn.

There has been much debate over the classification of red pandas. Red pandas were originally placed in the same family as the raccoon and they have a similar bushy tail. Later they were classified with the giant panda. Following genetic studies, they are now placed in their own family. The superfamily that red pandas now fall into (Musteloidea) is related to Ursidae (same infraorder).

Red pandas live 10 years in the wild and up to 15 years in zoos.

They could be considered an umbrella species. They also spread seeds and plant species during feeding and traveling.

Saving red pandas is important for global biodiversity. The forests where they live are the lungs of South Asia and vital for combating global climate change.

Red pandas communicate by scent marking. They indicate readiness to breed by urinating or rubbing scent glands located at the base of the tail. They mark their territory using scent glands located between the footpads.

Red pandas can have between 1 and 4 young, but 2 is the average number of cubs per litter.