Highland Wildlife Park welcomes second red panda to new habitat

A second red panda has arrived at Highland Wildlife Park’s new specialist enclosure.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has welcomed the arrival of one-year-old red panda Flyn, who will join three-year-old female Priya at the park.

Earlier this year, Priya’s arrival at the park marked the long-awaited return of the species after Kevyn and Kitty were relocated to Edinburgh Zoo in 2022.

Described as “sweet and well-mannered”, Priya will now share her habitat with Flyn, an energetic one-year-old with tonnes of curiosity all the way from Zoo Neuwie in Germany.

Like most red pandas, he is often spotted climbing trees and enjoys eating bamboo.

RZSS said Highland Wildlife Park is an ideal location for red pandas, which originate from the cool, temperate forests of the Himalayas.

The new red panda habitat is set on a wooded hillside, offering expansive views of the Cairngorms and features tall trees and climbing structures for the panda pair to explore.

Keepers are hoping that eventually the two will have cubs.