Photo by Mehgan Murphy courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Seriously, sometimes it’s just beyond ridiculous the way the Smithsonian National Zoo toys with our emotions. There’s so much to be down on—the demise of Internet gambling, widespread double-dipping by District employees, the fact that most of Occupy D.C. is now cold and tentless—that sometimes, you just want to be yanked back to a happy place by some furry animals.

Young, photogenic pandas! Well, not giant pandas of course, considering that species’ woeful bedroom habits. But a pair of growing red pandas are the latest photo subject from the heartstring-tuggers at the National Zoo. These “sub-adult” creatures reside along the zoo’s Asia Trail.