Whether the red panda is more closely related to the giant panda or the raccoon has puzzled scientists for years. Made for a life in the trees, the red panda travels through the canopy with ease. Not only is the panda a great climber, it is also an amazing jumper, clearing distances up to five feet. Hair on the bottom of its feet keeps the panda from slipping on branches.
- Red pandas spend up to 13 hours a day foraging for bamboo, eating only the youngest, most tender leaves.
- Pandas have a small, thumb-like bone that sticks out from the wrist that helps them grasp bamboo shoots.
- A thick, furry tail that wraps around its body protects the panda from the chilly weather.
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90-Second Naturalist 
