I'll be curious to see how this actually turns out. Right now it looks like they are building a tent. In terms of size, I know that you think this is small but is it really smaller than Sacramento or San Diego exhibits (only other California zoos with red pandas)?
It is quite remarkable that a state with the diversity of captive wildlife attractions such as California has only 3 zoos with red pandas. I've never been a fan of San Diego Zoo's children's section as almost all of the exhibits are either metal cages or outdated enclosures. The new, small insect house is quite nice and there are always some rarities in that zone of the zoo, but the red panda exhibit is a simple cage that makes it difficult to spot the inhabitants.
Sacramento has a much more naturalistic red panda exhibit (with 3 pandas) that is well-shaded and cool even in the height of summer and is average in terms of size. Charles Paddock had a red panda locked up inside its den on my visit and I saw it peering out of the tiny window on the right-hand side of the unfinished enclosure. In terms of size the future exhibit might well be satisfactory, but based on my visit from a few months ago I would not be surprised if it ends up being yet another disappointing animal habitat at this tiny, 5-acre zoo.
It is quite remarkable that a state with the diversity of captive wildlife attractions such as California has only 3 zoos with red pandas.
In terms of size the future exhibit might well be satisfactory, but based on my visit from a few months ago I would not be surprised if it ends up being yet another disappointing animal habitat at this tiny, 5-acre zoo.
There used to be red pandas at San Francisco (many years ago), Santa Barbara (until 2009), and at the San Diego Wild Animal Park (before it became "Safari Park"). I wouldn't be surprised if LA Zoo had them at some point, but it hasn't been since 1997 at least if they ever did.
I hope that Charles Paddock Zoo can build a good red panda exhibit. They need one.
I assume that this exhibit has opened by now. To anyone who has visited since it opened, what is it like in terms of space and viewing? After reading snowleopard's review and looking at photos, I must say that I'm not impressed, and I hope that this panda exhibit isn't as small as the other enclosures here.
I assume that this exhibit has opened by now. To anyone who has visited since it opened, what is it like in terms of space and viewing? After reading snowleopard's review and looking at photos, I must say that I'm not impressed, and I hope that this panda exhibit isn't as small as the other enclosures here.
I just saw the completed red panda exhibit. It is basically a large cage with plenty of furnishings and some decent plantings. It isn't aesthetically pleasing, but seems about the same quality in terms of space as other red panda exhibits at California zoos.
The staff there is very dedicated to red panda care. Alan Baker, the director, designed and implemented the program while at Sacramento and has worked with red pandas for years. While the exhibit may not wow the guests it has what it needs to wow the pandas.
The staff there is very dedicated to red panda care. Alan Baker, the director, designed and implemented the program while at Sacramento and has worked with red pandas for years. While the exhibit may not wow the guests it has what it needs to wow the pandas.
I visited Charles Paddock Zoo in 2011 and thought that it was terrible, and so I'm not surprised to find out that the zoo has not built a brand-new exhibit for 40 years. After 4 decades without anything but renovation jobs it is no wonder that the city of Atascadero has such a crap zoo. However, I am delighted to declare that the plans for the upcoming red panda exhibit appear to be world-class. My fingers are crossed that the new exhibit can begin a zoo-wide transformation. Here is a news article on the first new enclosure to be built at the zoo in 40 years:
