WASHINGTON — Red pandas are back at the National Zoo after a two-year hiatus.
Tusa, a 1-year-old male, and Asa, a 1-year-old female, are calling the Small Mammal House their home until they move into the red panda exhibit. Upgrades are currently being made to the exhibit, located on the Asia Trial, and are expected to be finished by early summer.
“We hope that our visitors will be as excited as we are to have red pandas back at the Zoo,” said Steve Sarro, curator of Asia Trail and the Small Mammal House. “We’ve made a commitment to study red pandas, and we hope that they inspire the public to help us conserve this endangered species and their habitat for many generations to come.”
Construction on the indoor retreat began last November. Zoo officials say it provides a more quiet environment complete with heating, air conditioning and new perches, as well as a window where visitors can view the animals while they are inside the habitat.
Zoo officials say 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’s previous red panda pair, Rusty and Shama, were moved to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute last January for breeding. Shama gave birth to three cubs in June, but died shortly thereafter. Rusty, infamous for his brief zoo escape and safe return in June 2013, remains at the institute.
Native to China, Nepal, India and Bhutan, red pandas are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Zoo officials say that conservationists estimate that fewer than 10,000 red pandas remain in the wild.
Watch a video about the red pandas coming to the zoo:
