Welcome Kiaria
Utah’s Hogle Zoo is excited to welcome 7-year-old red panda Kiaria to Asian Highlands!
Chinese red panda Kiaria joins Utah’s Hogle Zoo from the Toledo Zoo in Ohio on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Red Panda Species Survival Plan (SSP), marking an important step in the zoo’s recent transition to Chinese red panda care.
Meet Kiaria
At 7 years old, Kiaria is described by her care team as curious, relaxed, and go-with-the-flow. As a known biscuit burglar, Kiaria enjoys snacking on fruit, bamboo, and biscuits when she’s not exploring her new habitat or curled up for a nap.
Howdy, William
Kiaria will soon share habitat space with 1-year-old male red panda William, who arrived at Hogle Zoo in fall of 2024. The two have started participating in “howdy” introductions—meeting through mesh barriers—and have swapped habitats behind the scenes to get familiar with each other’s scent.
As the younger of the two, William is cautiously curious about his new companion, while Kiaria, having lived alongside other red pandas before, has embraced the introductions with her usual go-with-the-flow attitude.
Fun facts about Chinese red pandas
- Chinese red pandas are expert climbers, using their sharp claws and unique “false thumb”—an extended wrist bone—to grip branches as they navigate the treetops. As arboreal animals, they spend much of their time in trees, resting during the day and becoming most active at dawn and dusk.
- Their reddish-brown fur provides natural camouflage, helping them blend into moss-covered trees and dense bamboo forests.
- Their bushy tails serve a dual purpose – providing balance when climbing and acting as a built-in blanket, which they wrap around themselves to stay warm in colder temperatures.
Red panda conservation
Found across mountainous forests of the Eastern Himalayas, red pandas belong to their own family, Ailuridae. Threatened by habitat loss and degradation, red pandas are an endangered species. Poachers also target red pandas for their fur and the pet trade.
You can now visit Kiaria in Asian Highlands. Look for her exploring, napping, and snacking!
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