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Bristol Zoo Project welcomes endangered red panda Nilo

George Cuevas Red panda Nilo in his newly created habitatGeorge Cuevas
Red panda Nilo in his newly-created habitat at the Bristol Zoo Project

An endangered red panda is settling in to his new home at the Bristol Zoo Project.

Staff said three-year-old male, Nilo, had been enjoying exploring his new habitat after arriving from Whipsnade Zoo.

A female will join him later this year as part of European breeding programme to help protect the endangered species.

Will Walker, curator of mammals at Bristol Zoo Project, said the team was "thrilled" to welcome the new arrival.

George Cuevas Red Panda Nilo climbing on the Cedar tree in the middle of his new habitatGeorge Cuevas
Three-year-old Nilo arrived from Whipsnade Zoo

Mr Walker said that red pandas are highly-threatened, adding: "their numbers in the wild have decreased by about 50% in the last 20 years."

Native to the eastern Himalayas and south-western China, the wild population is thought to be as low as 2,500, with the species suffering because of issues including by habitat loss and poaching.

George Cuevas Red Panda Nilo in his newly created habitatGeorge Cuevas
Nilo will be joined by a female red panda later in the year
George Cuevas Red Panda Nilo looking curiously around the Ceder tree branchesGeorge Cuevas
Nilo has been enjoying climbing the cedar tree in his new home

Director of people and engagement, Hannah Windross, said the zoo wanted to do everything it could to protect red pandas.

"We have a plan to ensure that, at the zoo, 80% of the species are endangered and connected to our conservation work. That's more than any other zoo in the UK," she said.

"We select species very carefully where we think we can have a conservation impact, where we can actually help that species and conserve it and protect it."

BBC Red Panda Nilo is fed in his new habitatBBC
Nilo is helped to a meal

The zoo has created a new habitat for Nilo, which includes a large cedar tree to provide plenty of opportunities for climbing.

Nilo was born at Whipsnade in 2020 to mother Tashi and father Blue, also as part of a European conservation breeding programme.

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