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Red Panda

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Hello! If you haven't already, meet the Red Panda.

Hello%21%20If%20you%20haven%27t%20already%2C%20meet%20the%20Red%20Panda.

Despite their name, Red Pandas are actually not closely related to the Giant Panda (the white and black panda).

Despite%20their%20name%2C%20Red%20Pandas%20are%20actually%20not%20closely%20related%20to%20the%20Giant%20Panda%20%28the%20white%20and%20black%20panda%29.%20

Red Pandas are members of the taxonomic “infraorder” Arctoidea. Meaning, they’re in the same group as bears, pinnipeds, raccoons, and mustelids.

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Cheryl Kewley / nationalgeograhpic.com

They are actually more like the skunks and raccoons that you might find in your backyard than giant pandas.

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However, like the giant panda, red pandas have a false thumb, which is an extension of the wrist bone. It’s great for grabbing bamboo.

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Red Pandas are very into naps. They are mainly active in the beginning of the day, then spend the rest of their time lounging around in the trees.

Red%20Pandas%20are%20very%20into%20naps.%20They%20are%20mainly%20active%20in%20the%20beginning%20of%20the%20day%2C%20then%20spend%20the%20rest%20of%20their%20time%20lounging%20around%20in%20the%20trees.

adorableanimals4lois.wordpress.com

Female pandas have litters of one to four babies.

Female%20pandas%20have%20litters%20of%20one%20to%20four%20babies.%20

Auckland Zoo / zooborns.com

Breeding season for red pandas is typically the late fall through winter, with a gestation period of about four months, which has most baby pandas born in the spring/summer.

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Mothers prepare for the birth of their children by building nests in tree trunks. The newborn cubs will stay in these nests until 3 months of age.

Mothers%20prepare%20for%20the%20birth%20of%20their%20children%20by%20building%20nests%20in%20tree%20trunks.%20The%20newborn%20cubs%20will%20stay%20in%20these%20nests%20until%203%20months%20of%20age.%20

Stufflebean Photography / tumblr.com

Mothers raise their children until adulthood, which is anywhere between 12-18 months.

Mothers%20raise%20their%20children%20until%20adulthood%2C%20which%20is%20anywhere%20between%2012-18%20months.

themetapicture.com

Roughly 50% of the red panda population is located in the Eastern Himalayas.

Roughly%2050%25%20of%20the%20red%20panda%20population%20is%20located%20in%20the%20Eastern%20Himalayas.

Josef Gelernter

The loss of nesting trees and bamboo is causing a big decline however.

The%20loss%20of%20nesting%20trees%20and%20bamboo%20is%20causing%20a%20big%20decline%20however.

worldzootoday.com

Adult red pandas live generally solitary lifestyles. They rarely travel in pairs, and are only around others during mating season.

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Red pandas are only slightly larger than the domestic house cat.

Red%20pandas%20are%20only%20slightly%20larger%20than%20the%20domestic%20house%20cat.

Like the cat, red pandas clean themselves first thing when they wake up. They will lick their front paws and then rub their backs, stomachs, and sides.

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Josef Gelernter

These animals spend most of their lives in trees. They even sleep on branches.

These%20animals%20spend%20most%20of%20their%20lives%20in%20trees.%20They%20even%20sleep%20on%20branches.

While they are members of the Order Carnivora, the red panda is not actually carnivore. They are mostly herbivores.

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Their diet mainly consists of leaves and bamboo, with the occasional snack of fruits, insects, and bird eggs.

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A study also found that red pandas absolutely love fake sugar.

A%20study%20also%20found%20that%20red%20pandas%20absolutely%20love%20fake%20sugar.%20

flickr.comIn a study for The Journal of Heredity, researchers discovered pandas prefer the artificial sugars to natural sugars. They are the only non-primates that can taste aspartame.

The red panda is the state animal of the Indian state of Sikkim. In 2011, the WWF helped their government declare that the state held over 300 red pandas.

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ChengLun Na PhD. / Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

In 2013, Ireland declared the red panda their favorite zoo animal.

In%202013%2C%20Ireland%20declared%20the%20red%20panda%20their%20favorite%20zoo%20animal.

Red pandas tweet. No, not in 140 characters like most of us. The sound that they make is actually called “twittering.”

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Red pandas have different names depending on where you are. In Nepal, they’re called "bhalu biralo." Sherpas call the critter "ye niglva ponva" or "wah donka."

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Caters News Agency / nydailynews.com

They were almost known as the Wah in the Western world.

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Herwid Prammer / telegraph.co.uk

Red Pandas are into the “head nod.” They often communicate using body language, such as head bobbing and tail arching

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Their fur coats make them expert hide-and-seekers. The reddish-orange tint allows them to blend into trees with reddish-brown moss.

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In captivity red pandas can live up to 14 years and 7-8 years out in the wild.

In%20captivity%20red%20pandas%20can%20live%20up%20to%2014%20years%20and%207-8%20years%20out%20in%20the%20wild.%20

The origin of the name “Panda” is the Nepalese word for red panda – “Nigalya poonya,” which means the eater of bamboo.

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They are also known as the “firefox,” due to their resemblance and red coat. The web browser Mozilla Firefox is actually a reference to the red panda.

They%20are%20also%20known%20as%20the%20%u201Cfirefox%2C%u201D%20due%20to%20their%20resemblance%20and%20red%20coat.%20The%20web%20browser%20Mozilla%20Firefox%20is%20actually%20a%20reference%20to%20the%20red%20panda.%20

Gareth Mok / flickr.com

Has your heart melted yet? If not, I'm sure this smile will do it.

Has%20your%20heart%20melted%20yet%3F%20If%20not%2C%20I%27m%20sure%20this%20smile%20will%20do%20it.%20

Youhei Yamazaki

Red Panda

Red Panda

Reviewed by parcelhubkajang on May 28, 2014 Rating: 5