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Because of its scarcity, an intensive international breeding program was established for the red panda in more than 30 zoos.
Red pandas are nocturnal and crepuscular, being most active at dawn, dusk, and night, and are polyphasic, sleeping at multiple times throughout the day.
Generally, mortality in red pandas is similar to that of other mammals, but is higher in males.
Structural homologies and functional similarities exist between some vocalizations of the red panda and those of the giant panda, *Ailuropoda*, and Procyonidae.
In the wild, red pandas use hollow trees, evergreens, or rock crevices as nest sites, but in captivity, they adopt nest boxes, hollow logs, or other artificial dens.
Temperature influences the red panda's sleeping posture as it maintains a tight curl during cold weather but stretches along branches with legs dangling during hot weather.
As a result of human encroachment and the unusual biology of bamboos, red pandas may be near extinction in the western sector of their range, especially in Nepal.
The red panda has little commercial value in live animal and fur trades, but still faces threats by humans.
Eastern red pandas may be somewhat larger and darker in color than those from western areas.
Red panda mating coincides with the winter solstice and occurs in early winter, usually within January and March.
Red pandas live an average lifespan of 8-10 years in captivity, with a maximum of 14 years.
The red panda's skull is larger than similar carnivores in order to improve bite pressure.
There is debate whether the two extant subspecies of red panda should be considered separate species.
When discovered in 1821, the red panda was the first species to be named "panda," yet the origin of the name is unknown.
Red pandas possess extremely robust dentition in contrast with that of similar procyonids.
The red panda is the only Asian carnivore in which the plantar surface of the foot is completely covered with hair.
Humans are the tiger's only serious predator, and poaching for illegal trade in high-value tiger products including skins, bones, teeth, claws, meat, and tonics is the tiger's greatest threat.
The pattern of stripes is unique to each tiger and can be used to identify individuals, much in the same way as fingerprints are used to identify people.
Most tigers live in forests or grasslands, for which their camouflage is ideally suited, and where it is easy to hunt prey that is faster or more agile.
While some hunting occurs in the daytime, tigers are mostly nocturnal, exhibiting activity that coincides with their prey.
Tigers are one of the only cats that are strong swimmers and enjoy lounging in shaded waters to deal with high temperatures.
Tigers breed well in captivity, and the captive population in the United States may rival the wild population of the world.
Tigers are not runners and rarely pursue prey more than 150 meters, but rather, they rely on explosive acceleration.
Only Bengal tigers have been found with a white coat, which has far fewer apparent stripes than an orange coat.
