Red panda on the Rock
- 5 September 2025
Two special animal species now live on the Rock. Since May, small-clawed otters have been spotted here. As of today, the endangered red panda also shares this place.
The former Monkey Rock
The modernist Rock from 1966 underwent a complete transformation and is now inhabited by two new animal species. Since May, small-clawed otters have been living on the Rock, and from today, visitors can also see the endangered red panda there.
The iconic Rock retains its character as a landscape feature and now forms a green island. Grasses and a few trees grow on the island, surrounded by a water landscape with boulders, aquatic plants and dead wood, specially designed for the small-clawed otters. In the middle of the island stands a dead tree, connected to the crowns of the surrounding trees. This allows the red panda to climb nimbly, exhibit natural behaviour and decide for itself when it wants to be visible. Landscape architect Thijs de Zeeuw designed the renovated enclosure.
Space for natural behaviour
Landscape architect Thijs de Zeeuw: ‘It's fantastic to see how the small claw otters and red pandas are using the enclosure as we had imagined. The water surrounding the island and the extra height of the tree crowns doubles their living space, allowing them to exhibit natural behaviour such as climbing, playing and retreating.’
Endangered species
The red panda is part of a European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). This is important because the red panda is not doing well in the wild. It is estimated that there are between 2,500 and 10,000 red pandas left in the wild. Deforestation and habitat loss are the biggest threats. ARTIS contributes to the EEP Forest Guardian Programme in north-eastern Nepal to support the red panda there.
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