Red pandas are small, tree-dwelling mammals native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. They have reddish-brown fur, a long, bushy tail, and a face with distinctive white markings. Red pandas primarily eat bamboo, but they also consume fruits, acorns, and insects. They are known for their playful behavior and are mostly active at night. These animals are classified as endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. Red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas, despite their similar names. They belong to their own family, Ailuridae, and are important for maintaining the health of their forest ecosystems.