Home / Environment / Red Panda's Dental Drama at Edinburgh Zoo
Red Panda's Dental Drama at Edinburgh Zoo
24 Sep
Summary
- Bruce the red panda had a tooth removed after keepers noticed he wasn't eating.
- The 11-year-old endangered red panda received a clean bill of health.
- Fewer than 10,000 red pandas remain in the wild globally.
Edinburgh Zoo's beloved red panda, Bruce, recently experienced a health scare that required veterinary intervention. Keepers observed that the 11-year-old red panda was not eating properly, prompting concern.
Veterinarians at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland diagnosed Bruce with a toothache. He was placed under general anesthetic for the removal of the problematic tooth and a comprehensive health examination. Thankfully, Bruce, who arrived in Edinburgh in 2016, was found to be in good health and has since returned to his enclosure.
Red pandas, native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, are classified as an endangered species. Habitat loss, human interference, and poaching have significantly contributed to their dwindling numbers, with fewer than 10,000 estimated to remain in the wild. Bruce is currently the sole red panda at Edinburgh Zoo.
