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Rostock Zoo Introduces New Red Panda Resident
Approximately a month following the arrival of the ten-month-old Red Panda named Pjat, the Rostock Zoo has unveiled its newest addition to the public. Born in July last year at Zoo Copenhagen, Pjat is the second Red Panda to call Rostock home.
In the last 20 years, the wild population of this species has decreased by 40 percent, according to Zoo Director Antje Angeli, who aims to raise awareness of this threat among visitors.
Unlike the well-known black and white giant, the Red Panda, scientifically known as Ailurus fulgens, is not closely related. This diminutive mammal is actually part of the raccoon dog family and is sometimes referred to as a fire fox. The animal care team describes Pjat as calm, laid-back, and curiously adventurous.
Pjat currently inhabits an 860 square meter area and is isolated from his potential mate by a fence. Red Pandas are solitary creatures, so it remains to be seen if Pjat and his future partner will coexist harmoniously in the long run. If both exhibit interest in each other, a cautious introduction will be attempted.
Red Pandas derive their name from their predominantly red coat and their diet. While bamboo, roots, and berries comprise a large part of their diet, they are known to occasionally supplement their meals with small animals, eggs, or young birds in the wild.
Originating from the Himalayan mountain forests, particularly Nepal, India, and Bhutan, Red Pandas become sexually mature at 18 to 20 months but only come together during the mating season, which spans from December to March.
While data on Red Panda populations in zoos, including Rostock and Denmark, over the past 20 years could not be found, recent news reported the arrival of an endangered Red Panda at Chester Zoo, potentially as part of broader conservation efforts to bolster Red Panda populations in zoos. Rostock does not appear to be associated with Red Panda conservation, and Denmark is not mentioned in the context of Red Panda populations in zoos.
The Commission has also examined the proposal for a Council Regulation on the conclusion of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, including potential provisions for improving the lifestyle and habitat of the endangered Red Panda, given the observed decrease in the wild population by 40 percent over the last 20 years. At home inside Rostock Zoo, Pjat, the second Red Panda to reside there, is settling into his new home-and-garden, a spacious 860 square meter enclosure, while the animal care team awaits a potential mate to join him.
