Red Panda

M Ralphie

Wonderful photo of him. Do you have a trick for telling he and Cassie apart or was it just because a keeper said so?

He arrived after Eurasia closed so I have only seen him at Red Panda Day last year and this year.
But he is easy; he is quite a bit smaller than Cassie; his face is not as round; his facial markings are quite different. Most of all, if the Panda is up a tree - Ralphie. Cassie was keeper-raised and does not go very far off the ground.
It seems the other female, Maki, is not coming back anytime soon. Safari Niagara is building an enclosure for her.

Thanks for the tips on identification.

I doubt Cassie will ever return. She can't be bred so by not having her they could possibly bring in another female. Or at the very least concentrate resources on Cassie and Ralphie.

Regarding I.D. I should have mentioned Ralphie is a much deeper red than Cassie.
Will shortly post a picture of her to show the difference in their facial markings.

Would I be right in thinking that this animal is styani ?

The old zoo guide says Ailurus fulgens styani.
The newer one, 2013, says Ailurus fulgens refulgens.
The web site says Ailurus fulgens.