See This, Do That: Endangered Red Pandas

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Red pandas spend most of their lives in trees and even sleep aloft. (Photo: Borderlys/Creative Commons)

Slightly larger than a housecat, this fella might look like a raccoon, but he's actuallly a red panda.

Indeed, the red panda is only distantly related to the much larger, black-and-white giant panda, according to National Geographic. In fact, the animal is not exactly a bear at all, or a raccoon. Scientists have yet to put their classification finger on the cunning and cute beast, native to northern India, Myanmar and Bhutan.

Observing the red panda is difficult due to its shy nature and inocturnal habits. Oh, and they are also deathly rare.

Scientists believe that fewer than 2,500 exist in the world.

The species is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching and inbreeding depression, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List.

Take a moment out of your day and—right here, right now—save a red panda.