Red pandas are back at the Smithsonian's National Zoo!
Description:
After a two-year hiatus, red pandas have returned to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Visitors can see them at the Small Mammal House, where they will live until upgrades to the red panda exhibit on Asia Trail are completed. The upgrades are expected to be finished by early summer. Last November, construction began on an indoor retreat—part of the larger red panda exhibit on Asia Trail—which will provide them with a quiet environment complete with heating, air conditioning and new perches. The structure includes a window where visitors can view the animals while they are inside the habitat. The retreat was made possible in large part by Friends of the National Zoo members. The red pandas named Tusa, a 1-year-old male, and Asa, a 1-year-old female, came to the National Zoo based on a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. Tusa and Asa will serve as ambassadors for their species, illustrating the social nature and behavior of red pandas to staff and visitors. The Zoo will continue to share the latest updates and photos of the red panda pair on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
