We've seen our fair share of adorable panda videos on the internet but, while there are many out there, we've seen far less of the red panda variety. Which is kind of strange because these little guys are so darned cute, you would think there would be videos of them doing silly things all over the place.
In this video, for example, from the Maruyama Zoo in Hokkaido, Japan, a zookeeper enters the sanctuary where the red pandas are housed and starts feeding them grapes and red apples. The creatures start digging in right away while climbing up a tree, but once they've finished off what the handler has given them, they can't stop bugging him for more!
In between short wrestling sessions in the snow with each other, the red pandas start climbing on the zookeeper's legs, looking into his pockets, and getting all up in his business in the hopes that he'll reward them with a little apple treat. He gives them their snack and plays with them in the snow for a bit while they play and eat. It's basically the cutest thing ever.
Although they share the name panda, red pandas are actually not very closely related to the giant panda (the black-and-white variety that most are familiar with). The red panda is actually not much larger than your typical housecat, has a reddish-brown fur coat, and tiny front legs.
Found mostly in the Himalayas and in southwestern China, there are estimated to be less than 10,000 red pandas in the wild, which means that their conservation status is listed as vulnerable.
Let's hope that more beautiful videos like this that spreading across the internet will mean more awareness and preservation of these amazing creatures.
Please SHARE this adorable video with all your animal-loving friends and family!
