International Red Panda Day [GPT]

On September 18, 2021, zoos and environmental organizations from around the world came together to celebrate International Red Panda Day. To mark the occasion, the Zoo sauvage prepared small surprises for its two red pandas, the male Ralphie and the female Xia. These surprises contained their favorite foods—bamboo, fruit, and kibble—and were distributed in the morning, one of the red panda’s main periods of activity. The rest of the day, they spent sleeping! A wonderful way to celebrate.

On the occasion of International Red Panda Day, the Red Panda Network, an organization dedicated to the conservation of the red panda, asked its followers what they liked most about these small orange animals. We asked the same question to those who work closely with them at the Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien: the animal keepers.

Alexandra is the red pandas’ keeper. Since their arrival at the Zoo sauvage, she has been taking care of them, feeding them, and cleaning their habitat. It is hard not to grow attached when you spend so much time with them! For her, red pandas are a source of calm and serenity; it is impossible to be upset around them. With their cute faces and plush-like appearance, Alexandra finds that they always seem to be smiling.

The red pandas also interact a lot with Christine. She is responsible for their biomedical training. This type of training is designed to facilitate certain animal behaviors during procedures and to assist the veterinarian’s work. Christine particularly appreciates their calm and gentle temperament. They are always peaceful and attentive, which makes them easy to work with. Because of both their personality and their slowness, they are easy to handle during training sessions and it is simple to obtain the desired behaviors. It is easy to understand why their trainer is especially fond of these ideal patients!

International Red Panda Day is a perfect opportunity to remind people that red pandas are endangered in the wild. Populations have declined by nearly 50% over the past twenty years and, according to the Red Panda Network, there are about 2,500 individuals left in nature. The greatest threat affecting red pandas is the destruction and degradation of their habitat. Urban and agricultural development within their range creates several problems. For example, the introduction of stray dogs is dangerous, as these animals may hunt red pandas and carry viruses that are harmful to them.

Since red pandas live on the other side of the world, in the Himalayas, it is rather difficult to provide direct help from here. However, there are ways to contribute to the protection of the species, notably through the Red Panda Network. On their website, www.redpandanetwork.org, there is an option to make donations for the protection of red pandas. Whether through the symbolic adoption of a red panda or by funding a forest guardian, it is possible to support conservation projects and help protect this magnificent species, despite the distance that separates us.

The Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien, through its mission, is committed to raising awareness among its visitors about the threats facing red pandas. In fact, a new female arrived at the Zoo a few weeks ago to serve as an ambassador for her species. Now that she has become familiar with her new environment, do not hesitate to come meet little Xia. You will fall under her charm, just like her keepers!