what do Red Pandas & Valentine's day have in common?

The color red and cuddly cuteness, both go hand in hand with Valentine's Day right?  Ok that may have been a bit of a stretch but you have to admit these fuzz balls are adorable, who wouldn't love them.

Location: Eastern Himalayas 
Status: Endangered 
Population: Less than 10,000
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The Red Panda
​Their scientific name Ailurus fulgens, meaning fire-colored, or shining, cat, a fitting description, also know by some other unusual names one you might know pretty well!  The lesser panda, cat-bear, bear-cat, Himalayan raccoon, fox bear and firefox, according to the San Diego Zoo. The mascot of the Firefox Web browser is a red panda, according to Mozilla. 

These skillful, acrobatic, and predominantly tree-bound animal are roughly the size of a large house cat.  They use their long, bushy tails for balance and to cover themselves in winter, presumably for warmth. Living primarily in the Himalayas they definitely need a warm furry coat. They are primarily an herbivore but do eat insects. 

Fun Fact, Red pandas do not have paw pads like what you see on dogs and cats but instead have fur covering the soles of their feet.  It is believed to add extra insulation from the cold and help grip onto slippery, mossy branches. Click here to learn more about the Red Panda, what is being done to help their populations, and how you might get involved. (source: WWF, Live Science, Aurifil)
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Check out the February Aurifil Color Builder Thread Club Patterns!