River Wonders debuts new red panda and exhibit this National Day weekend
The river-themed zoo will be home to a red panda for the first time in 12 years.
River Wonders, a river-themed zoo in Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Singapore, is set to introduce a new red panda named Yaffa to its visitors during the National Day weekend. The 11-year-old male will join the facility as part of an animal exchange programme, marking the first new addition to the red panda family in 12 years. Yaffa arrived from Taipei Zoo and has already begun warming up to the keepers, demonstrating his personality to zoo staff.
The newly constructed red panda exhibit is located in the Yangtze River zone and is divided into two interconnected areas. Yaffa can freely move between these zones via an overhanging log crossing. The exhibit offers visitors an opportunity to view Yaffa in an indoor setting without a glass barrier. Yaffa's debut coincides with the ongoing development of the red panda exhibit, which is being constructed in two phases - each designed to house a single red panda.
The red panda exhibit joins the existing Giant Panda Forest, which already houses another red panda named Karma. Red pandas are an endangered species, with fewer than 10,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Their population continues to decline due to habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal pet trade. Mandai Wildlife Group encourages Singapore residents to take advantage of the WildPass, a complimentary digital membership offering up to 30 per cent savings on tickets for multiple attractions.
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