Zoo Biology 29 : 732–740 (2010)

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Current Husbandry of Red Pandas

(Ailurus fulgens) in Zoos
P. Eriksson,1 J. Zidar,1 D. White,2 J. Westander,3,4 and M. Andersson1
1
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Environment
and Health, Skara, Sweden
2
Marwell Wildlife, Winchester, United Kingdom
3
Parken Zoo, Eskilstuna, Sweden
4
Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping,
Sweden

The endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is held in zoos worldwide. The aim of
this study was to examine how red pandas are kept and managed in captivity and to
compare it with the management guidelines. Sixty-nine zoos, mainly from Europe
but also from North America and Australia/New Zealand, responded to our survey.
The results revealed that in general zoos follow the management guidelines for most
of the investigated issues. The average enclosure is almost four times larger than the
minimum size recommended by the management guidelines, although seven zoos
have smaller enclosures. About half the zoos do not follow the guidelines concerning
visitor access and number of nest boxes. Other issues that may compromise animal
welfare include proximity of neighboring carnivore species and placement of nest
boxes. Zoo Biol 29:732–740, 2010. r 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Keywords: animal welfare; captive; management guideline; enclosure; survey

INTRODUCTION
There are two subspecies of the endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens),
A. fulgens fulgens and A. fulgens Styani, distributed in the Himalayas and South
Central China, respectively [Choudhury, 2001; Wei et al., 1999a]. Red pandas live in
mountainous areas in primarily broad-leaf deciduous and subalpine forest [Pradhan

Correspondence to: P. Eriksson, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental studies, Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences, S-901 83 Umeå, Sweden. E-mail: Per.Eriksson@vfm.slu.se
Received 16 June 2009; Revised 23 January 2010; Accepted 10 February 2010
DOI 10.1002/zoo.20323
Published online 5 April 2010 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com).

r 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

 Current Husbandry of Red Pandas in Zoos 733

et al., 2001]. The natural home range is about 1 km2 [Reid et al., 1991]. Red pandas
are arboreal and use trees to escape from predators and to rest and nest [Glatston,
1994; Yonzon and Hunter, 1991]. Resting places in the field are situated at various
sites and at different heights, in places that both provide good cover and lookout
[Johnson et al., 1988]. Although the red panda is a member of the order Carnivora,
its natural diet consists primarily of plant material. The diet consists of more than 90
% of bamboo leaves, which they choose carefully [Johnson et al., 1988; Reid et al.,
1991]. Seasonally, fruits, berries, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and other leafy
vegetation and opportunistically obtained animal protein complement the red
panda’s diet [Reid et al., 1991; Yonzon and Hunter, 1991; Zhang et al., 2009]. To
survive on a diet of such low nutrient content as bamboo, red pandas have adapted
morphologically, physiologically, and behaviorally [Wei et al., 1999b]. A large
amount of bamboo [more than 1.5 kg fresh leaves or 4 kg fresh shoots] has to be
consumed daily and the transit through the gut is rapid [2–4 hr; Wei et al., 1999b].
Red pandas in the wild are active both day and night, primarily during the
crepuscular hours and they are active about one-third to one-half of their diurnal
time [Johnson et al., 1988; Yonzon and Hunter, 1991]. Similar activity patterns are
observed among captive red pandas in both large (1,200 m2) naturalistic [Gebauer
and Engler, 2001] and smaller (170 m2) enclosures [Holst, 1989]. Most of the activity
of wild red pandas is probably associated with food acquisition.
On December 31, 2008, there were 762 documented red pandas living in 252 zoos
worldwide (records from some countries are unavailable). Of these, 230 individuals live
in 98 zoos in Europe, 167 in 70 zoos in North America, and 43 in 12 zoos in Australia/
New Zealand [A. Glatston, personal communication]. Unfortunately, breeding success
of red pandas in zoos has been relatively poor [Glatston, 1992], and progress toward
the development of a self-sustaining captive population has been compromised by high
infant mortality and low reproductive success [Glatston and Leus, 2005]. Infant
mortality rate in the first month averages 25%, but varies from 10% in Australia to
40% in North America, suggesting that it may be related to husbandry and
management [Glatston and Leus, 2005]. Cause of death in captive red panda cubs
includes maternal abandonment and infanticide [Yinghong, 1994].
Animals in artificial environments are confronted with a large number of potential
stressors including aversive sounds, restricted movement, forced proximity to humans
and other species, unnatural diet, disease, reduced foraging opportunities, and
compromised expression of natural behaviors [Clubb and Mason, 2007; Morgan and
Tromborg, 2007]. Poor captive conditions can lead to compromised psychological and
physical health, including reproductive function [Mellen, 1991; Miller et al., 2008]. This
study is part of a larger project that investigates causes of low reproductive rate, including
high infant mortality, in various species in zoos. The main objective of this article is to get
an overview of how red pandas currently are kept and managed in captivity and to
compare this with the recommendations from the management guidelines.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 2007, a survey was sent out to red panda holders in Europe, North America,
and Australia/New Zealand. The survey included 37 questions, and the replies to the
20 questions which were considered relevant and informative are presented in this
article. Of the 69 zoos that responded, not all of them answered all the questions.

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734 Eriksson et al.

Therefore, in the following text, the number of responding zoos is shown in brackets
after backslash for each question.
About half the questions were open-ended and the other half had response
choices (Table 1). When the alternative ‘‘other’’ was given, it was followed by a
request for respondents to specify their answers.
The questionnaire did not ask zoos with multiple red panda enclosures to
provide separate answers for each one. Seven zoos reported two enclosures when
stating enclosure size. In these cases, we used the mean value. Means are shown with
standard error of mean (SE). The questionnaire did not differentiate between the two
subspecies, but because zoos in North America keeps both subspecies and zoos in

TABLE 1. List of questions and response choices

Enclosure characteristics
Please give approximate dimensions of the red panda Open-ended
enclosure?
Are the red pandas exhibited with any other species? Yes, no
If so, which species? Open-ended
Approximately, what is the highest structure that the red Open-ended
panda can climb?
What other features are within the red panda enclosure? Pond, rocks, shrubs/plants,
logs, feeding station,
other
Please tick the substrate(s) used within your red panda Grass, woodchip, peat,
enclosure? concrete, other
Feeding
How often are the red pandas fed? Once a day, twice a day,
three times a day, other
How many feeding stations are present? 1, 2, 3, 41
How often is bamboo fed? Every day, every other day,
once a week, other
Which species of bamboo, if known, is fed? Open-ended
Breeding and health
How many nest boxes do the red panda have access to? 1, 2, 3, 4, 51
What is the height of the highest placed nest box and the Open-ended
lowest placed nest box?
Have you experienced neonatal deaths in any of the litters Open-ended
born within your collection? Please give possible factors
resulting in neonatal death, e.g., disturbance of dam, etc.
Have you ever had to hand-rear red pandas? Yes, no
Under what circumstances was there a need to hand rear? Disturbance of dam, female
neglect, first litter, other
Have you encountered any specific health related problems Open-ended
with the red pandas held in your collection, e.g., parasitic,
viral, hair loss etc.? Please give details.
For the health problems listed above, what treatments are Open-ended
administered?
Outside disturbance
What is the approximate distance to the next animal exhibit 1–5 m, 6–10 m, 11–15 m,
from the red panda exhibit? 416 m
Please list the species in the neighboring enclosure(s). Open-ended
Approximately how much of the red panda enclosure can be 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, all-round
accessed for viewing by visitors? viewing

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 Current Husbandry of Red Pandas in Zoos 735

Europe and Australia/New Zealand only keeps A. fulgens fulgens, the latter
subspecies dominated our study.
The results are compared with the recommendations from the management
guidelines [Glatston, 1989]. They cover housing, enclosure barriers, social groupings,
diet, hand-rearing, veterinary care, hygiene, capture and transport, instructions for
post-mortem examinations, and additional general information.

RESULTS
Sixty-nine zoos responded to the survey, of which 47 were European, 13 North
American, and 9 Australian/New Zealand. Mean enclosure size for the 61 zoos that
reported dimensions was 300 m2 (7S.E. 31), but ranged from 23 to 1,100 m2 (Fig. 1).
Seven zoos (11%) had enclosures smaller than the 80 m2 recommended in the
management guidelines. Red pandas were exhibited with other species, mainly
muntjac (Muntiacus spp.), in 16% (11/69) of the zoos.
Many zoos had several different features in the enclosure. Shrubs were the
most common feature found in 88% (61/69) of the responding zoos, followed by logs
at 77% and rocks at 72%. Surface water, mainly ponds, was available in 48%
(33/69) of the zoos. The highest climbing structures were more than 4 m in 84% (53/
68) of the zoos; in 4.4%, the highest climbing structure was lower than 3 m. The most
common ground substrate was grass, found in 91% (63/69) of the zoos. One zoo did
not state grass but replied natural vegetation. Wood chips were used in 43% of the
enclosures. Out of the five enclosures without grass, soil, or natural vegetation, four
had wood chips and one enclosure had gravel and pine bark.
Food (e.g., apple, banana, pear and other fruits, vegetables, panda cake, egg,
small vertebrates, and bamboo) was given once a day in 19% (13/68) of the zoos,
twice a day in 59% of the zoos, and three or four times in 22% of the zoos. Thirty
percent (20/67) of the zoos had one feeding station, 42% had two, 11% had three,
and 16% had at least four feeding stations present. Bamboo was fed once per day in
68% (47/69) of the zoos, twice a day in 10% of the zoos, every other day in 5.8% of
the zoos, and weekly in 8.7% of the zoos. The remaining 7.2% (5/69) of zoos
reported offering bamboo sporadically or rarely. At least 17 species of bamboo were
fed among different zoos.

Fig. 1. Red panda enclosure size for 61 responding zoos; 0 means 0–99 m2, 100 means
100–199 m2, etc.

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736 Eriksson et al.

One or two nest boxes were available in 44% (30/68) of the zoos, whereas 47%
had three or four nest boxes and 8.8% had five or more nest boxes. Because females
tended to move cubs around, some zoos in our survey recommended that more than
five nest boxes should be available. Underground nest boxes were reported for 6.0%
(4/67) of the zoos, whereas 55% of the zoos had their lowest nest box placed at
ground level. The highest placed nest box was in 45% (30/69) situated up to 1 m
above ground, whereas 11% had their highest placed nest box at 3 m or above.
Forty-nine percent (22/45) of the zoos had experienced neonatal deaths. Of the
18 who suggested or knew the cause of death, 6 respondents mentioned disturbance
of the mother (by conspecific male, humans, or unspecified), 4 cited maternal neglect
and/or cannibalism, and 3 respondents mentioned lack of milk production.
Of the responding zoos, 14% (7/50) reported hand-rearing cubs. Four
respondents mentioned maternal neglect as the reason necessitating this; two replied
maternal death and one Caesarean birth. One of the zoos said they had hand-reared
many cubs and that the reasons, in addition to maternal neglect, were over-grooming
by the mother, maternal inexperience, and lack of milk.
Hair loss, mainly on the tail, was reported by 41% (26/63) of the zoos. Four
zoos mentioned that it occurred in spring or summer, two zoos mentioned social
factors (in one case the breeding male lost hair when he was separated from the
female with cubs, in the other case the breeding female lost hair when an old female
was in the group), and one zoo stated that it occurred after transportation. Hair loss
was seen on both males and females, but most respondents did not specify the gender.
Of the 26 zoos that reported hair loss, 7 replied how they treated it and 10 zoos
stated they did not treat it. Two reasons for not treating hair loss were given: One,
because the cause of the condition was unknown, and two, it was considered a
seasonal occurrence and, therefore, self-limiting. Those who did try to treat it used
vitamin and mineral supplementation, topical insecticide against ectoparasites
(selamectin, luferon), injections of antiparasitic drugs (ivermectin, moxidectin), and
thyroid hormone modulation.
Other mentioned health issues were parasites and fungal diseases, mainly
lungworm (four zoos), but also ringworm and heartworm. Seven zoos reported
dental problems. Other health issues included degenerative spinal disease, bladder
stone, kidney failure, anemia, pancreatitis, lameness, and loss of appetite.
At least one neighboring enclosure was located within 15 m from red panda
enclosures in 92% (62/68) of the zoos. In 28% (19/68) of the zoos, at least one
neighboring enclosure contained a large carnivore (Canidae, Ursidae, or Felidae),
with about half (10/68) being large cats.
Of the 69 responding zoos, 14% had visitor viewing access around the whole
enclosure, 33% had three quarters viewing access, whereas 35% had half and 17%
had a quarter viewing access.

DISCUSSION
The main purpose of our study was to get an overview of how red pandas
currently are kept and managed in zoos. Although there are some limitations to the
data we collected, e.g., lack of detailed qualification and quantification of certain
clinical conditions, hand-rearing practices, and some enclosure characteristics, we
still received a large amount of useful information. Some of the results will also be

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 Current Husbandry of Red Pandas in Zoos 737

used in a future study where we will investigate how the husbandry of red pandas
affects infant mortality.
Enclosure Characteristics
Enclosure size in the responding zoos ranged from 23 to 1,100 m2 with seven
smaller than the 80 m2, recommended in the management guidelines. Obviously, it is
impossible for a zoo to keep animals in natural-sized enclosures, but the size is
important because it affects number and placement of nest boxes, resting places,
feeding stations, natural vegetation, and behavioral enrichment opportunities within
the enclosure. Smaller enclosures probably need more intensive husbandry in order
to satisfy the needs of the inhabitants. It may also hinder the panda’s ability to avoid
public disturbance or other individuals in the enclosure.
The quality of the enclosures is critical to help balance the restricted space that
captive enclosures allow. In the wild, red pandas are found on steep slopes where
fallen logs, shrubs, and bamboo are common [Wei et al., 2000]. Zhang et al. [2006]
found that fallen logs and tree stumps were important microhabitat characteristics,
but that slopes were probably not an important characteristic for red pandas. Both
the density and quality of these features are important for the psychological well-
being of red pandas. Some of these features, such as shrubs, logs, and rocks, were
found in many panda enclosures.
Only half the enclosures contained surface water. Pandas swim well and in the
wild are rarely far from water [Glatston, 1989; Pradhan et al., 2001; Yonzon and
Hunter, 1991]. Surface water may benefit pandas in zoo enclosures for enrichment,
temperature regulation, and hydration.
According to the husbandry and management guidelines, the highest climbing
structure should be at least 4 m [Glatston, 1989]. This was accomplished by 84% of
the zoos in this study. It is important that a captive animal has the possibility to get
away or hide. Because the red panda is arboreal, a tree may be more appropriate
than an indoor enclosure at ground level.
It is recommended to use natural substrates with edible grasses within the
enclosures [Glatston, 1989]. Many enclosures had a mixture of different substrates.
Most enclosures had edible grasses; and if grass was not present wood chip or gravel
and pine bark were used as substrate. Even though wood chip probably is a better
substrate than concrete it will not supply the panda with the possibility to forage.
In the absence of bamboo, grass, and other leafy plants, may, even if potted and
thereby easily replenished, to some degree substitute for bamboo and give the panda
the opportunity to forage throughout the day.
Feeding
It is important to think about not only the nutritional requirements, but also to
consider the behavioral feeding needs of an animal. For many captive animals, food
sources are often concentrated foods that may be easier for keepers to provide, but
which lead to reduced opportunity for foraging activity. In order to increase the
foraging time for captive pandas to simulate a wild condition, they should be fed
several times per day and at several locations in the enclosure that make food
acquisition challenging and time-consuming [Johnson et al., 1988; Wei et al., 1999a,
2000]. The management guidelines state that red pandas in captivity should be fed at
least twice a day [Glatston, 1989]. This recommendation is followed by a majority of

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738 Eriksson et al.

the zoos, but 19% gave food only once a day. The majority of the responding zoos
had one or two feeding stations present.
The wild diet consists of about 90% of bamboo leaves which are carefully
selected and chewed thoroughly [Johnson et al., 1988; Reid et al., 1991]. Most zoos fed
bamboo at least once every day, but 15% fed it less often. The management guidelines
recommend that 200 g bamboo should be offered once a day to each panda, but to
cover the daily needs, about 1.5 kg has be eaten [Glatston, 1989; Wei et al., 1999b]. It is
difficult for zoos to supply bamboo to fulfill the red panda’s nutritional requirements,
but there may be other local species of plants that may be provided as substitutes.
To increase the amount of protein and fiber in the panda feed, concentrate is
normally recommended as a substitute to bamboo [Plumb, 2004]. Biscuits and other
concentrates may provide nutritional support but may also reduce foraging time and,
thereby, result in boredom and consequent behavioral issues. Lower activity levels in
captivity than in the wild have been observed in many captive animals, including the
sympatric giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) [Swaisgood et al., 2001]. Providing a
variety of toys, puzzle feeders, and other environmental enrichment increases activity
and reduces stereotypic behaviors and feeding anticipation behaviors [Swaisgood
et al., 2001]. Encouragement and provision of opportunity for the exercise of natural
behaviors in animals is a significant challenge for captive wildlife facilities.
Breeding and Health
Captive breeding of red pandas has been compromised by low reproductive
rates and high infant mortality [Glatston and Leus, 2005]. Husbandry methods that
minimize stress are believed to be a major factor in reproductive success, and the
number and quality of nest boxes available to an expecting mother may be critical
[Glatston, 1992]. According to management guidelines, at least three nest boxes
should be provided in the enclosure [Glatston, 1989]. In this study, almost half the
zoos had less than three nest boxes available. Almost half the zoos had their highest
placed nest box at 1 m or below and only 10% had it at least 3 m above ground. It is
more natural for the arboreal red panda and probably more comfortable and less
stressful to use a nest box high up, as red pandas in the wild give birth to their cubs in
nests in trees [Glatston, 1994]. There are, however, other factors that need to be
considered as well. The temperature is, for example, lower in underground nests. The
best practice is, therefore, to provide several nest boxes with different characteristics.
Our data concerning the occurrence of hand-rearing, neonatal death, and
health problems should be considered in the context that the data collected for this
study did not include sufficient detail to determine the extent to which these
occurred. Some zoos mentioned maternal neglect as a reason for infant mortality
and maternal neglect was cited as the most common reason necessitating hand-
rearing. The reasons for maternal neglect seem to be complex and may include
insufficiently learned parenting skills, stress, and an inappropriate environment
[Glatston, 1992; Ryan et al., 2002]. Although hand-rearing may save the life of a
rejected cub, it may cause reproductive problems in the next generation, as is seen in
other species, such as in lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) [Ryan et al., 2002].
Hair loss was a problem commonly reported in this survey, and the cause seems
to be varied or unknown. One possible reason is stress. Hair loss owing to stress is
known to occur in several species in captivity that normally does not lose hair in the
wild [Honess et al., 2005]. It is interesting to note that hair loss in captive red pandas

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 Current Husbandry of Red Pandas in Zoos 739

mainly seems to occur in spring and summer, thus during breeding season. In a study
of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), hair loss was found to vary with season and
sex; a correlation between available enclosure space, housing system, group size, and
composition with coat condition was also found [Steinmetz et al., 2006].
Outside Disturbance
The environment beyond enclosures, for example, neighboring species and
human visitors, can have a negative effect on captive animals [Hosey, 2008]. In this
study, almost a third of the red panda enclosures held large carnivores, mainly felids,
in a neighboring enclosure. Unfortunately, we could not say how far away those
enclosures were or if the red pandas had visual, auditory, or olfactory contact. Some
argue that predators are a natural part of an animal’s life. However, forced and
constant proximity to a predator without the option to escape can be stressful
[Morgan and Tromborg, 2007]. Measures may be taken to minimize this cause of
stress in zoos. For example, pacing in tigers (Panthera tigris) decreased after
providing a visual barrier between two adjacent tiger enclosures [Miller et al., 2008].
According to the management guidelines, red panda enclosures should not be placed
adjacent to potential predator species and should be at least 50 m away from large
carnivores [Glatston, 1989]. The management guidelines also state that viewing
access by visitors should be restricted to one or two sides of the red panda enclosure
[Glatston, 1989]. In this study, more than half the responding zoos had at least three
quarters viewer access around the enclosure. It is important for animals to have the
possibility to hide, particularly for naturally reclusive species, such as the red panda.
In a study with six clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa), provision of additional
hiding space lead to decreased fecal corticoid concentrations, which suggested a
reduction in stress levels [Shepherdson et al., 2004].

CONCLUSIONS
1. This study shows that zoos generally follow the management guidelines for most
of the investigated issues. The average enclosure size is almost four times larger
than the minimum size recommended by the management guidelines, although
seven zoos have smaller enclosures. However, some issues, such as visitor access,
neighboring predator species and placement, and number of nest boxes, are not in
concordance with the guidelines and this may result in a lower level of animal
welfare and reproductive success.
2. The reasons behind both hair loss and infant mortality need to be investigated.
The effects of several factors found in this study are worth further investigation,
for example, visitor access to enclosures, neighboring species, and placement and
number of nest boxes, and also possibilities in the enclosure to hide and avoid
stressors. Also, variety of diet and foraging time are worth investigating further.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are grateful to Dr. Angela Glatston for assistance with the questionnaire,
to the zoos who responded to our questionnaire, and to Dr. Kati Loeffler and two
anonymous reviewers whose comments improved this article considerably.

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740 Eriksson et al.
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