TWO rare red pandas have been transferred from Nay Pyi Taw Zoological Garden to Yangon Zoo for display in the zoo’s red panda exhibit, according to the Yangon Zoo management team.
The newly arrived red pandas, a female named Mee Mee and a male named Maung Maung, have been relocated to Yangon Zoo. These two pandas were originally transferred from Myitkyina, Kachin State, to Nay Pyi Taw Zoological Garden in 2015. The transfer was made to replace an elderly red panda at Yangon Zoo that had passed away from old age.
Mee Mee, the female red panda, has a deep reddish-brown coat and is approximately 13 years old, while Maung Maung, the male, has a distinctive yellow head and is around 12 years old.
Red pandas, known for their striking red fur and unique facial form, are scientifically classified as Ailurus fulgens.
They are found in the northern regions of Myanmar, along the borders of China and India. However, due to deforestation, illegal poaching, and climate change, red pandas are listed as a globally endangered species. Immediate conservation action is necessary due to the red panda population’s continuous deterioration. — ASH/MKKS
