Red pandas are found mainly in the temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, including Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China.
They typically live in mountainous forests at elevations of about 1,500–4,800 metres, preferring dense bamboo undergrowth for food and shelter.
A. f. fulgens is mainly found in the eastern Himalayas, while A. f. styani occurs primarily in southwestern China and northern Myanmar.
Red pandas are primarily herbivores, feeding mainly on bamboo leaves and shoots, supplemented by fruits, berries, insects, eggs, and small animals.
Much of their time is spent in trees, where they rest and feed. Activity is greatest during the early morning, evening, and night.
Red pandas are generally solitary, with individuals usually living and foraging alone. Mothers remain with their young until they become independent.
It climbs effortlessly through the treetops, using its long, fluffy tail for balance like a little acrobat of the forest.