Red pandas are mostly solitary creatures, only coming together in the wild to mate, says PJ Jones of the Roger Williams Park Zoo. They're also mainly active at dawn, dusk, and at night, and live at elevations between 4,900 and 16,500 feet.
Photograph by Karine Aigner, National Geographic Creative
These furry little mammals' preference for an arboreal lifestyle has put them in a vulnerable position—deforestation is fragmenting their wild habitats.
Photograph by Karine Aigner, National Geographic Creative
Red pandas live in cold, high-altitude forests of central China, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, and India. Their preference for chilly climes means zoos in temperate areas must be mindful of their fluffy charges during summer.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Creative
Red pandas can have different personalities. "I've worked with some that are a little more standoffish and have to think about things," says Jones. But she's also worked with individuals that love to get in her face and cause trouble.
Photograph by Joe Petersburger, National Geographic Creative
While zoos can safely exhibit more than one red panda in the same exhibit, the animals sometimes need a break from each other. At Roger Williams Park Zoo, staff provide separate sleeping areas so their pandas can get some alone time.
Photograph by Michael Nichols, National Geographic Creative
Initially, red pandas were grouped together with giant pandas on the family tree, says Jones. "But now they're on their own" as pandas, she says, since giant pandas are now classified as part of the bear family.
Photograph by Karine Aigner, National Geographic Creative
Red pandas are considered vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Less than 10,000 mature individuals likely remain in the wild, though their secretive nature makes it hard to know exact numbers.
Photograph by Joe Petersburger, National Geographic Creative
Red pandas "are a wonderful animal to come and visit in the zoo," says Jones. "Even when they're sleeping, they're quite adorable."
Photograph by Frans Lanting, National Geographic Creative
