atlanta zoo
May 11, 2023

Two-year-old sisters are currently exploring their new home at the Atlanta Zoo’s Asian Forest

New red panda sisters Ruby and Rose may be seen exploring their habitat at the Atlanta Zoo. As they continue to adjust to their new homes, sightings of the pair have yet to be guaranteed.

Ruby and Rose arrived at the Atlanta Zoo on February 23, 2023 from the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee. The red panda completed regular quarantine periods underwater while habitat renewal took place.

The red panda’s habitat has undergone major modifications, including new natural perches that allow the largely arboreal red panda to traverse much of the habitat without descending to the ground. Other improvements included an expansion of the temperature-controlled enclosed building, which gave Ruby and Rose the choice of spending time outdoors or enclosed.

The red panda is a separate species from the giant panda, sharing a distant common ancestor with it but not closely related. Giant pandas belong to the family Ursidae, while red pandas belong to their own family Ursidae. Known for their lustrous red coat, which gives them the Chinese name Hung Ho (fire fox), red pandas are usually solitary in the wild, but can also be found in small packs.

There are two subspecies of the red panda. The Himalayan subspecies, represented by Ruby and Rose, are native to Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of India, while the second subspecies is native to China. The red panda is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In addition to their biggest challenge of habitat loss, the red panda is threatened by poaching for its fur and capture for the illegal pet trade. The Atlanta Zoo currently supports the conservation of red pandas through the Mabel Dawn Leader Conservation Fund. Funding from the Atlanta Zoo is working to combat habitat loss by enabling continued support for the Red Panda Network’s reforestation nursery in Jaubari, Nepal.