Meeting friends, going for a walk with the family – these are just some of the many options for spending the weekend. If you don't know where to go, plan a visit to the zoo and see how its inhabitants are enjoying the warmer weather.
Meeting friends or going for a walk with the family are just some of the ways to spend the weekend. If you don't know where to go, plan a visit to the zoo and see how its inhabitants enjoy the warmer weather.
We recommend that residents and visitors of the capital visit the Moscow Zoo and pay a visit to our furry charges – the red pandas Zeyn and Ryzhik.
Although red pandas tolerate cold well (their thick fur protects them from hypothermia), in winter they spent less time outside their shelters. As a result, many zoo visitors were unable to see them.
In spring the animals become more active and are on display more often. Please note: red pandas are most active in the morning and evening. Keep this in mind when planning your trip to the zoo.
For those who not only want to see the red pandas but also learn more about them, we have prepared a selection of interesting facts.
- Red pandas perceive scents using the underside of their tongue: they are the only carnivorous animal with this anatomical feature.
- They are primarily solitary: in the wild red pandas mostly live alone and meet only during the breeding season.
- Both the red panda and the giant panda have six digits on their front paws. The sixth, a pseudo-thumb, helps them grasp and hold bamboo.
- Most of a red panda's diet consists of bamboo, berries and other plants. However, this animal is classified as a carnivore. Despite their largely plant-based diet, they can supplement it with insect larvae, birds and small mammals.
- Red pandas love to eat. One individual can consume up to 4 kg of bamboo per day.
Want to learn more about our charges? Visit the "Eco Program" section on our website and read all the news about the red pandas.