The mission to safeguard one of the world’s most charismatic species from extinction has reached a significant milestone in Cheshire.
An adorable two-year-old female red panda, called Akashi, has arrived at Chester Zoo, having been selected as the ideal genetic pairing for the zoo’s male panda, Koda.
Conservationists hope the duo will have cubs together as part of efforts to safeguard the species, which has seen its wild numbers plummet by 40% in just two decades.
Red panda Akashi has arrived at Chester Zoo to help save her species from extinction.
Having travelled from Blackpool Zoo, she has been chosen as the perfect companion for Koda based on her age, health and genetics, a pairing that will help bolster the conservation breeding programme and secure the future of the species.
A Successful Blind Date for Conservation
Zookeepers have described the introduction to each other as a blind date moment and say that early interactions have been positive between the pandas.
Dave White, Team Manager at the zoo, said:
“Akashi has spent her first few days settling in and exploring her new home.
“At just two years old, she’s already a really confident panda and it didn’t take long before she was climbing trees, foraging for food and chewing through plenty of bamboo.”
The team at the zoo acted quickly to ensure the transition was smooth, despite the territorial nature of the species.
White continued, saying:
“Red pandas are shy and calm creatures, but they can be highly territorial, which is why we didn’t waste any time in introducing Akashi and Koda.
“It was a real blind date moment, but initial signs have been incredibly positive.
“We’ve already seen some playful chasing and a couple of feisty stand-offs over the best tree branches and favourite sleep spots, which is completely normal panda behaviour and exactly what you want to see.”
Protecting the Future of the Original Panda Species
Red pandas are found in mountainous regions of Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar and southern China where fewer than 10,000 are thought to remain in the wild.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared the species as endangered, the second-highest priority on its Red List of threatened species, with an urgent need for conservation action.
Habitat loss, poaching and the illegal wildlife trade remain the primary threats to their survival.
Reflecting on the long-term goals for the new pair, Dave White added:
“Now they’re settling in, we’re hopeful that Koda and Akashi will form a strong bond and, in time, we might one day hear tiny squeaks of cubs coming from their den, playing an important role in securing a long-term future for this wonderful species.”
Despite their name, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas and are, in fact, considered the original panda species in China.
They were discovered more than 50 years before the giant panda and only share the name due to a distant common ancestor that lived millions of years ago.
The arrival of Akashi on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, represents a vital step in ensuring these unique creatures, with their long, bushy tails patterned with 12 alternating rings, continue to thrive.
