Red Panda Day 2025: 11 adorable facts about red pandas that will melt your heart

Not Really Pandas: Even though they share a name, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas. They have their very own special family, Ailuridae. (Image: Canva)

Built-In Furry Boots: Red pandas have very thick fur on the bottom of their feet, which keeps them warm and allows them to hang onto cold branches with ease. (Image: Canva)

Masters of Camouflage: Their reddish-brown fur perfectly matches the moss and tree bark of their Himalayan forest home, protecting them from predators.
(Image: Canva)

They Love Bamboo: Like giant pandas, red pandas primarily feed on bamboo. But they're actually omnivores and sometimes snack on fruits, insects, and bird eggs. (Image: Canva)

Tail Like a Blanket: They use their long, bushy tails as a cosy wraparound blanket while sleeping, especially during chilly mountain nights. (Image: Canva)

One Cub or Two: Red panda mothers usually give birth to one or two cubs at a time and care for them in leafy, tree-hollow nests. (Image: Canva)

They Are Mostly Nocturnal: These reclusive creatures are most active at twilight and dawn and spend their daylight hours lounging in trees, staying out of the heat. (Image: Canva)

Incredible Climbers: Red pandas are adept climbers. They can climb down trees headfirst due to their flexible ankles and semi-retractable claws. (Image: Canva)

Lonely but Social: They are loners but will still talk to each other using squeals, twitters, and scent markings to maintain contact. (Image: Canva)

They Stand When Threatened: When threatened, red pandas stand on their hind legs to make themselves look bigger and more menacing—a very cute defensive move. (Image: Canva)

Endangered and Valuable: With fewer than 10,000 remaining in the wild, red pandas are listed as endangered. They depend on conservation efforts to survive. (Image: Canva)