A male red panda has arrived at the Santa Barbara Zoo. The adorable little guy, who came to Santa Barbara from Trevor Zoo at Millbrook School in New York, is currently living behind the scenes in a roomy habitat while his new permanent home is being renovated.

Red panda looking up from greenery around him has mainly red fur with white markings around its nose, mouth and ears.
Red Pandas are more closely related to raccoons than they are to giant pandas. Credit: Courtesy photo

While the panda is not visible to the public right now, an announcement will be made later this year to formally introduce him to the community.

Red pandas are endangered due to habitat loss, with only 10,000 left in the wild. They are found in various regions of China, Nepal, and northern Burma, and are known for their reddish-brown fur, bushy tails, and cute, bear-like faces.

Despite their name and appearance, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas; they are actually more closely related to raccoons.

The name panda is believed to come from the Nepali word “ponya,” meaning “bamboo eater,” and in fact, red pandas were classified and named before giant pandas.

To learn more, visit the zoo’s website sbzoo.org.

The Santa Barbara Zoo is open daily 9 a.m. for members and 9:30 a.m. for general admission until 5 p.m. General admission is $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 2-12, and free for children under 2. Parking is $11.

The Santa Barbara Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.