First pictures of cute new red panda at Bristol Zoo Project

The Bristol Zoo Project's latest addition, Nilo the red panda, is settling into his newly created habitat and will be meeting the public in time for the Easter holidays.

The habitat was tailor-made to the needs of red pandas, with a large cedar tree sitting at the centre, providing plenty of climbing opportunities.

The species, native to the Himalayan Mountain range through Nepal, India and China, are under threat from habitat loss and poaching.

Only 2,500 specimens are thought to be left in the wild, as researchers estimate their population has declined by 40% over the last 50 years.

Three-year-old Nilo will play a vital role in the future of red pandas globally, as he is part of a crucial European breeding programme -the European Ex-situ Programme or EEP. He was born at Whipsnade in 2020, to mother Tashi and father Blue, as part of the programme.

Will Walker, Curator of Mammals at Bristol Zoo Project, said: “We are very excited to have Nilo here with us at Bristol Zoo Project. He has settled in really well so far and has enjoyed exploring his new habitat. We are thrilled to bring the species back to Bristol and the South West for visitors to enjoy and observe.

“Red pandas are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. Their red or orange-brown coat, white markings on their face, and bushy tails with red and buff ring patterns, serve as a camouflage within their natural habitat amongst red moss and white lichen-covered trees. They also have what’s often described as an extra thumb, which is an enlarged, modified wrist bone which they put to good use to climb trees and grab bamboo stems.”

Aside from meeting Nilo, visitors will also have the opportunity to take part in the We’re Going on a Bear Hunt trail this Easter.

The interactive trail, inspired by Michael Rosen’s bestselling book, is full of sensory installations in the Bear Wood, where along a treetop walkway with panoramic views you can spot the zoo’s European brown bears who live alongside grey wolves, lynxes and wolverines in ancient British woodland.