Celebrate the Original Panda at Drusillas this Saturday!

Saturday 21st September will mark International Red Panda Day when this colourful and charismatic creature goes under the spotlight at Drusillas Park and zoos around the world, in order to raise awareness for the species. 

Red pandas arrived at the award-winning Drusillas Park for the first time earlier this year and have proved extremely popular with staff and visitors alike.

Although sometimes referred to as the lesser panda, these beautiful animals are actually the original panda. They were discovered by westerners in 1825, more than 40 years before giant pandas, who were not scientifically written about until 1869.

In the wild red pandas inhabit the Himalayan mountains of China, India and Nepal where they are threatened by habitat destruction and hunting. They live on their own or in small family groups and consume a diet almost entirely of bamboo.

The pair at Drusillas were introduced as part of the European breeding programme. Tibao and Mulan came from Asson Zoo and Paignton Zoo respectively and it is hoped that in due course, they will have a family of their own. 

To coincide with International Red Panda Day, Drusillas has installed a brand new interactive with fun facts about these beautiful creatures. Visitors can also see Mulan and Tibao taking life easy at the zoo and learn a little more about them at close quarters.

International Red Panda Day is organised by The Red Panda network who are committed to the conservation of wild red pandas and their habitat through the education and empowerment of local communities. For more information visit www.redpandanetwork.org