Red Panda


In the Wild:

The red panda is specialized as a bamboo feeder with strong, curved and sharp semi-retractile claws. Like the giant panda, it has a “false thumb” that is an extension of the wrist bone. When descending a tree headfirst, the red panda rotates its ankle to control its descent. It is a territorial animal, which is generally solitary except during mating season. The species is also generally quiet except for some twittering, tweeting, and whistling communication sounds.

Conservation Status:

Wild population is less than 10,000 individuals and decreasing. Threats include: being taken from the wild, competition with domestic livestock and deforestation resulting in habitat loss or fragmentation.

Zoo Location Red Panda enclosure

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Quick Facts

  • Lifespan: Up to 15 years
  • Distribution: Ranges from the foothills of western Nepal to China in the east
  • Habitat: Temperate forests of the Himalayas

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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING...

  • I thoroughly recommend the outreach programme. The presence of live animals in the classroom inspired my students and helped their understanding of many parts of the science national curriculum. The interpretation officers are informative and very knowledgeable. They pitched their presentation at the appropriate level, encouraging students to ask many questions and were happy to discuss my needs before the talk to ensure its relevance to my class. The whole event was a very easy way to organise a really exciting experience.

  • Please pass on a huge thankyou to Lainie who spent time with flynn today showing him the education room, the small insects and rats, and especially the time she spent showing him the tigers which were his worst fear!

    Shepreth Wildlife park – thank you soo much you are brilliant! Would recommend to anyone!

  • Many thanks to ALL, Owain absolutely loved his Experience Keeper Day,  fact that much he wants to do  it again next birthday also,

    So Many Thanks Again to all.

  • I just want to say a huge THANK YOU for a wonderful experience that my family enjoyed yesterday at Shepreth.

    Despite the unfortunately changeable weather on Saturday my partner and I along with our 3 children (aged 3,6 and 9) had a most enjoyable day. There was so much to see, do, stroke, learn about, play on, etc that we didn’t want to leave!

    However the icing on the cake for all of us was when we went into Bug City where we met a charming and informative keeper who showed us some of the animals and answered lots of questions from my inquisitive 9 year old about spiders, lizards, snakes and scorpions.

    Please pass on our gratitude to all your friendly staff as it was so nice to take my family somewhere that catered for all ages and where the staff clearly are enjoying what they do and not forgetting all the animals that are so well looked after and cared about.

    Looking forward to visiting again when we can – please keep up the great work!

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