A pair of Red Pandas have been introduced at award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park
A pair of red pandas have been introduced at award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park with hope they will contribute to the conservation of the incredible species.
21 April 2026
A pair of red pandas have been introduced at the award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park, with hopes they will contribute to the conservation of this incredible species.
Ten-month-old Zemi arrived from Sparsholt College in Hampshire and has taken his first steps into the reserve to be with Alice, a six-year-old.
Alice arrived at the park alongside Ariel and Aurora in 2022, who have since moved to other zoos on the recommendation of the European Endangered Species Programme.
Director of Animals, Dr Charlotte MacDonald, said: “We are delighted to welcome Zemi to the park, with hopes that he will mate with Alice, who has been here for four years now.
“They were first introduced away from the main enclosure and have got on well together. We hope that we will see signs of breeding success in time.
“They can now be spotted in the Himalayan Pass reserve, much to the delight of visitors.”
The red pandas can be found sleeping in the trees of the Himalayan Pass reserve, which is also home to otters and binturong. The reserve reflects the temperate valley forest of Southern Asia.
Dr MacDonald added: “We also offer a red panda experience at YWP, where visitors will get the chance to meet Zemi and Alice up close and feed them their favourite foods.
“Red pandas are an endangered species and need our protection. It is exciting to be able to contribute to conservation efforts.”
The red panda is an endangered animal that lives in the temperate forests of the Himalayas. These pandas usually weigh around 7kg and grow to the size of a house cat - although their long tails add an additional 18 inches to their frame.
Despite their species name, red pandas are not closely related to the giant panda - they are most closely related to weasels and raccoons. Their curved, sharp, semi-retractile claws and an extension to the wrist form a false thumb to help them manipulate bamboo.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, which puts conservation at the heart of all its activities, offers an unrivalled walk-through experience, bringing visitors almost face-to-face with some of the world’s most beautiful and rare species, including Amur tigers, giraffes, black rhinos, and polar bears.
The Yorkshire Wildlife Resort boasts The Hex Wildlife Hotel and The Yorkshire Hive - a shopping, dining, and entertainment village.
Subscribe to updates from Yorkshire Wildlife Park
