It’s International Red Panda Day and is there a more perfect way to celebrate than with the news that Sparsholt College Group has an exciting addition to add to its growing animal collection. Thimpi, the Red Panda arrived at the Sparsholt Campus earlier this summer all the way from Kosice Zoo in Slovakia as part of a European breeding programme for endangered species.
The Red Panda European breeding programme has evolved from a small unstable population with low breeding success and high mortality, into a successful breeding programme with high breeding success and direct links to in situ conservation.
Thimpi turned 5 in June and has settled into his new enclosure well and has found all sorts of routes to climb!
Gary Miller, Head of Zoo at Sparsholt College Group said: “One thing a little different about Thimpi is his tail. Looking rather sorry for itself, it is potentially a result of stress while living with his brother for longer than he would have liked. We have seen this improve already as he has settled into his new home. He is a little shy but very adventurous, scouting out his new enclosure and finding his favourite places to nap and to watch the keepers go about their busy day.”
Sparsholt’s female Red Panda, Meeko and Thimpi are now in the same enclosure and getting on well. Sparsholt has been fortunate to hold 7-year-old Meeko who was bred at FOTA Wildlife Park since 2019.
The Animal Health and Welfare Research Centre team hope the pair prove to be compatible so that by as red panda mating season comes around in the Autumn months, they’ll be on friendly terms.
The AHWRC Team, led by Instructor Kat Nicola and her students held several fundraising events for the Red Panda Network this summer including a Raffle, craft stall and cake sale which raised over £500 – an incredible achievement. The money went directly to the charity who help to conserve the species by using education of local communities, anti-poaching projects and habitat preservation, currently covering 50% of all districts in Nepal.
Sparsholt is the home of The National Zoo Academy which represents the gold standard for anyone aspiring to enter, already employed in or wanting to develop their skills in the zoo industry with courses such as The Diploma in Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals (DMZAA). Sparsholt is a full member of BIAZA and the Animal Health and Welfare Research Centre was one of the first licensed zoos in a UK College or University, because of this Sparsholt is able to accommodate exotic species as part of its extensive animal collection.