Remembering Suri: A Cherished Red Panda

The Passing of Suri the Red Panda

Staff at Paradise Park in Hayle, Cornwall, are saddened to announce the passing of Suri, the beloved Red Panda. Suri originally arrived at Paradise Park in 2016, having come from Port Lympne Reserve, a wildlife sanctuary in Kent. She was naturally more shy than some of the others, but with encouragement from her companion Jai-Li, Suri would often descend from the trees, much to the delight of visitors.

A Special Bond with Visitors

Keeper Becky Waite reflected on Suri’s time at the sanctuary, noting, “She was over ten years old, which is a good age for a Red Panda. She was very popular, especially with those who participated in our Red Panda Experiences. During these sessions, and thanks to her training, guests were able to hand-feed Suri and she would often choose to sit on their laps while they learned about the species and the conservation efforts to protect Red Pandas in the wild.”

Supporting Conservation Efforts

Over the past ten years, Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary has contributed £20,720 to the Red Panda Network, thanks to donations from the Red Panda Experience programme. These funds have supported the ‘Red Panda Protected Forest’, establishing the world’s first protected area dedicated to Red Pandas, and the ‘Plant A Red Panda Home’ campaign, which has resulted in the planting of 15,113 trees. For further details, visit www.redpandanetwork.org.

Dedication of Keepers

None of these achievements would have been possible without the dedication of the Red Pandas Keepers at Paradise Park. Using positive reinforcement training, they spend considerable time with the animals so that they are comfortable with veterinary checks and this also makes memorable visitor experiences possible.

Looking Ahead

Suri leaves behind her companion Jai-Li, who will continue to receive plenty of attention from the Keepers. Paradise Park is part of the European breeding programme for the species and hopes to welcome more Red Pandas in the future.