Aki, the Red Panda

Red panda Aki returned to Dresden Zoo in early April.

Before the 10-year-old male arrived from Poznań Zoo, we renovated all the climbing structures and tree trunks in the enclosure and replanted the area. Red pandas are excellent climbers and love to rest and sleep in high places.

Aki is a particularly gentle and trusting panda who is happy to take treats straight from his keepers’ hands. This is always a good opportunity for them to check on his health at close range and spot anything out of the ordinary early on. It’s also ideal for medical training, to help make future treatments as stress-free as possible.

As well as fresh bamboo, harvested right here in the zoo, Aki enjoys eating fruit as a treat. Our keepers are currently investigating exactly which foods he prefers.

Although red pandas are solitary animals, they can also live in pairs or small groups. We hope to find a suitable female partner for Aki from another zoo, through the breeding programme.