Rare red panda with ‘charismatic personality’ mysteriously dies at Minnesota zoo
.png "A rare red panda unexpectedly died at a Minnesota zoo.")
Staff members at a Minnesota zoo are searching for answers after an endangered red panda unexpectedly died.
On Aug. 2, 1-year-old Pip, which is short for Pipsqueak, was found dead inside her den box, according to a Facebook post by the Lake Superior Zoo.
Pip first came to Minnesota in April and was introduced to zoo guests in June after she was chosen to be a part of the zoo’s red panda population. She was given her name because of how small she was when she was born.
“Pip stole the hearts of all who cared for her. She had a big personality for her small size. Pip has left a lasting mark on all her keepers and she will be dearly missed,” Director of Animal Care Lizzy Larson said.
Zoo officials checked security camera footage and saw Pip go into her den box around 10 p.m. Aug. 1 and she never came back out, according to the post.
“Previous to this, there was no observed unusual behavior or interference from animals or people that would give insight into this loss,” zoo officials said. “The staff at Lake Superior Zoo are heartbroken and seeking answers.”
Pip was taken to the University of Minnesota for in-depth testing to determine what caused her death.
“Each and every staff member at the zoo is devastated by the loss of Pip. Though she was with us for only a short time, we all quickly fell in love with her charismatic personality. We appreciate the community’s understanding and support at this time,” Chief Executive Officer Haley Hedstrom said.
There are fewer than 10,000 red pandas in the world, according to the World Wildlife Fund. About 50% of them live in the Eastern Himalayas.
They are just slightly larger than a domestic cat and have a “bear-like body and thick russet fur,” according to the website. They are known to be “skillful and acrobatic animals.”
This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 4:53 PM with the headline "Rare red panda with ‘charismatic personality’ mysteriously dies at Minnesota zoo."
