The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is native to the eastern Himalayan mountains and southwestern China. The populations in the wild are decreasing due to habitat loss and deforestation. Thus, research has been done on their reproductive activities in captivity, to explore future breeding opportunities to assure the species remains. Reproductive behaviors between males and females included grooming each other, scent-marking, and chasing, and eventually led to copulation.

Art by @cvt.art, Edited by Isabelle McDonald

Reference:

Maharjan, H., Sharma, H. P., Gutam, R., Shah, R., Pokharel, C. P., & Belant, J. L. (2023). Breeding behavioral activities of captive red pandas in Nepal. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology, 11(2), 2023016-2023016.