Research suggests that red pandas have been around for about 30 million years; with their closest relatives being raccoons. There has been red panda ancestors all over the world but the current day red panda has migrated to and stayed in Asia. As they began to stay in Asia, natural selection kicked in and the red pandas adapted to their new environment. Some of these adaptations include a radial sesamoid to help with  holding and grabbing bamboo, a large bushy tail to aid in balance, and furry paw pads to help grip slippery or mossy branches. The radial sesamoid is an adaptation the red panda has in common with the giant panda and is an example of convergent evolution.