Photo facts…

Red panda, close-up.

International Red Panda Day (IRPD) is annually observed across the globe on the 3rd Saturday of September to create awareness about the importance of the conservation of Red Pandas and to promote and encourage people to save them.

Red pandas are much smaller than the more familiar black and white pandas. In fact, red pandas are not related to giant pandas at all. Red pandas weigh between 12 to 20 pounds, which is about the size of a housecat. These adorable mammals live in the trees of the Himalaya Mountains. The Red panda’s popularity in Asia features them in cartoons and as team mascots. However, only about 10,000 red pandas live in the wild. Because of deforestation, poaching, and the illegal pet trade, red pandas are endangered.