Chester Zoo brings in female red panda to help save a species down 40% in 20 years
A two-year-old female red panda has arrived at Chester Zoo, paired with resident male Koda in a breeding programme aimed at protecting the endangered species.
Akashi was brought from Blackpool Zoo as part of a coordinated conservation effort, with her age, health and genetic profile all factored into the decision to pair her with Koda.
Chester Zoo staff say the introduction has gone well, with the two animals already showing signs of settling in together.
Dave White, Team Manager at Chester Zoo, said: “Akashi has spent her first few days settling in and exploring her new home.
“At just two years old, she’s already a really confident panda and it didn’t take long before she was climbing trees, foraging for food and chewing through plenty of bamboo.”
He added: “Red pandas are shy and calm creatures, but they can be highly territorial, which is why we didn’t waste any time in introducing Akashi and Koda.
“It was a real ‘blind date’ moment, but initial signs have been really positive.
“We’ve already seen some playful chasing and a couple of feisty stand-offs over the best tree branches and favourite sleep spots — which is completely normal panda behaviour and exactly what you want to see.”
Fewer than 10,000 red pandas are thought to remain in the wild, across mountainous regions of Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar and southern China.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the species as endangered — the second highest threat category on its Red List.
The global population has fallen by 40% over the past two decades, driven by habitat loss, poaching and trapping for the illegal wildlife trade.
In some parts of the world, red panda fur is used to make ceremonial hats worn by newly-weds.
Despite sharing a name, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas.
They are considered the original panda species and were discovered more than 50 years before the giant panda, sharing only a distant common ancestor.
Dave White said: “Now they’re settling in, we’re hopeful that Koda and Akashi will form a strong bond and, in time, we might one day hear tiny squeaks of cubs coming from their den — playing an important role in securing a long-term future for this wonderful species.”
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