Sadly, Warcraft beat them to it by 5 years. I guess you could argue the movie ruined the concept for people.
I know, I know--people think pandaren are a joke. Well, guess what? They're as much a joke as tauren, furbolgs, half-ogres, gnolls, kobolds, murlocs, and makrura. They've been around longer than the current draenei* and worgen. What's the problem with having another animal-headed humanoid race?
* Pre-BC draenei had a vastly different characterization and appearance.