From our archives: Detroit Zoo red panda cubs come out of hiding

Twin panda cubs were born in July

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Two red pandas born in July at the Detroit Zoo have finally come out of hiding.

The twin boys, R.J. and Hammy, were difficult to spot in the summer months due to all of the leaves in their wooded habitat, located across from the Tigers.

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"The Thanksgiving holiday is the perfect time to see and appreciate these cubs and other threatened species that thrive here," said Ron Kagan, Detroit zoological society executive director.

Red pandas are skilled climbers, spending most of their time hanging off of tree branches or lounging on limbs. They are most active in early morning or evening hours.

The red panda is a shy, solitary animal, except while mating. Though they are called pandas, they are actually not bears and apart of their own family. Most are around the size of a house cat, with rust-colored fur and an 18-inch, ringed tail.

These animals are found in the mountainous regions of Nepal, Myanmar and central China. They are classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation for Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species due to deforestation.