There is something incredible going on in this Instagram post with footage captured in a zoo or wildlife sanctuary. It shows a red panda parading up and down in front of a captivated human audience, occasionally receiving a pat on the back from its admirers. It looks like a celebrity strutting along a catwalk! In this article, we will explain why this is such an unusual sight and explore the relationship between red pandas and humans.
Red Pandas in the Wild
Red pandas have cute markings.
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Red pandas (Ailurus fulgens)are wild animals! They are found throughout the Himalayan Mountains between elevations of 7,200 feet and 15,700 feet. This means they occupy northern Burma, Nepal, and some parts of India and China. When it comes to habitat, they need deciduous and coniferous forests, usually with an understory of bamboo and hollow trees. Here, they feed on berries, blossoms, bamboo leaves, and bird eggs. Unfortunately, their natural habitats are threatened by deforestation. Sometimes, they are also the victim of game hunting and can get caught in traps set for musk deer.
Cuddles With Red Pandas
These are adorable creatures. They are small and compact (between 22 and 24 inches long) with a weight of up to around 13 pounds. Most noticeably, they have a long and furry tail with alternating red and buff rings. Their head is round, with a stumpy nose and large, erect, pointy ears. Most of their long fur is reddish-brown, but they also have distinctive markings on their nose and ears. It’s no wonder that people in the video want to reach out and pet them.
The clip does not indicate where it was captured, but there are several places where you can have a ‘red panda experience’. Some of these experiences simply allow you to admire these gorgeous creatures from a distance. Others, such as the Shanghai Wild Animal Park in China, may offer close encounters with red pandas, though direct contact or petting is generally not permitted. The Chengdu Research Base does not allow close access or petting experiences with red pandas as of 2025.
Is Petting Red Pandas Really Wise?
This can be a controversial subject, and opinions differ. The bottom line is that these are wild animals. There are risks for both the red panda and the humans involved. Red pandas are usually solitary animals; they do not like the company of other red pandas, let alone humans! When approached, they can be aggressive and may strike out with their semi-retractile claws. This can obviously cause injuries to humans. Just as importantly, forced human interaction can be very stressful for the red pandas. This is why many experiences have a strict ‘no petting’ rule.
This individual, however, appears to be very accustomed to humans. It is most likely that it has received food from humans by parading across the wall in the clip and allowing itself to be petted. The red panda has learned that by putting up with humans for a short while, it can bag a tasty snack!
