Grief for Zimai: Zoo Leipzig loses his last red panda

Grief for Zimai: Zoo Leipzig loses his last red panda

The Leipzig zoo mourns the loss of a special animal. The popular red Panda Zimai, a real favorite by visitors, blessed the time at the age of 15. With its death, the zoo not only loses a star, but also the last surviving specimen of its kind in Leipzig zoo, which makes the news all the more bitter.

Zimai lived in a striking enclosure, embedded in the high mountain landscape of the Himalayas, which was an eye -catcher for many visitors. A short path behind the aquarium led to his kingdom, where it was often admired. Despite his advanced age, which made his movements slower, the feeding was a popular attraction. The visitors had developed a special affinity for Zimai, especially after his partner Lila died last autumn.

the farewell to Zimai

After the loss of Lila, Zimai did not live alone, but shared his enclosure with two crocodes. The sad loss and loneliness of this animal have deeply touched visitors. The Leipzig Zoo announced the death of Zimai in an official announcement and emphasized the associated pain. The cause of his death is attributed to old age, because in the wild, red pandas often only reach an age of about ten years, according to the WWF.

The inventory of the red pandas is worrying: According to experts, there are only about 10,000 copies worldwide. This makes the loss of Zimai even more serious, since the Leipzig zoo thus loses a significant contribution to the preservation of this endangered species. Despite Zimai's death, the attitude of the red pandas in the Leipzig zoo continues. The zoo is in contact with the European conservation breeding program (EEP), which promotes the breeding of these remarkable animals and thus offers hope for a future stock.

The next steps in relation to Zimai's former enclosure is currently being discussed. The question of when new red pandas will move in remains open for the time being. The zoo will ensure that visitors will be kept up to date with all developments. A future -oriented look at the breeding and keeping of these unique animals could soon bring new hope to the Leipzig Zoo.

The visitor loyalty to animals and their living conditions was increasingly discussed and many will remember the time with Zimai. He was not just an animal, but part of the hearts of many visitors, and his absence will be noticeable in the Leipzig Zoo.