The Lake District Wildlife Park , part of the Armathwaite Hall Hotel estate, announces the arrival of a rare female red panda, Zaya, who has joined resident male Charu as part of a European conservation breeding programme.

Zaya has travelled from Parc Animalier De Sainte Croix in France following a recommendation from the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), which manages breeding populations of endangered species across Europe. After careful assessment by the programme’s studbook keeper, Zaya and Charu were identified as a suitable breeding pair.

Charu, who has lived at the Park for approximately 12 years, lost his long-term companion Mei Li in February 2024. While the pair never produced cubs, they played an important role in educating visitors about the challenges facing red pandas in the wild.

Charu has become a firm favourite with visitors over the years thanks to his gentle nature and distinctive personality. Following the loss of his long-term companion, Mei Li, in February 2024, staff were keen to find a suitable match for him through the breeding programme. Zaya, who has already impressed her keepers with her sweet but adventurous character, is settling in well and is hoped to become just as popular with visitors in the years to come.

Native to the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal, Bhutan and China, red pandas are classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. It is estimated that only around 2,500 remain in the wild, with habitat loss, deforestation, illegal hunting and the pet trade continuing to threaten the species’ survival.

The Lake District Wildlife Park has supported red panda conservation for many years through its partnership with the Red Panda Network, a charity working with local communities in Nepal to protect and restore red panda habitat. Together with Armathwaite Hall Hotel, the Park has donated over £10,000 to the charity in recent years, in addition to annual contributions to sponsor Forest Guardian Sushma Pradhan for the past 12 years.

Since arriving at the Park, Zaya has been gradually introduced to Charu in a private area, allowing the pair time to become familiar with one another. During this period, staff also carried out improvements to the red panda enclosure, including the installation of new climbing platforms, elevated walkways and additional nesting and resting areas.

Animal care staff report that both pandas have settled in well and have already been observed scent-marking around the enclosure, an encouraging sign that they are adapting positively to their new environment.

Richard Robinson Park Manager at the Lake District Wildlife Park said:

“Charu has been loved by our visitors for many years and has played an important role in helping us raise awareness of the challenges facing red pandas in the wild. We are delighted to welcome Zaya to the Park and have already been charmed by her sweet but adventurous personality. Conservation is at the heart of everything we do, and participating in international breeding programmes is an important part of helping to secure the future of endangered species. We are very pleased with how both Zaya and Charu have settled in and look forward to watching their relationship develop in the months ahead.”

While red pandas are naturally solitary animals in the wild, they come together during the breeding season. The Park hopes that the new pairing will contribute to the long-term conservation of this endangered species and, in time, may result in the arrival of cubs.

Visitors can now see Zaya and Charu in their newly upgraded enclosure at the Lake District Wildlife Park. The red panda talk and feed is at 1.30pm every day.