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Ocean Park is saddened to announce the passing of its resident female red panda Rou Rou today at the age of 17.
The Park’s animal care and veterinary teams had been providing Rou Rou with comprehensive care and closely monitoring her geriatric conditions since 2021. Unfortunately, but inevitably, age-related ailments including degenerative joint issues caught up with her and she showed increasing signs of discomfort in recent weeks that no longer responded to palliative care.
Following a thorough assessment on her quality of life and welfare, the decision to humanely euthanise Rou Rou to prevent her from suffering unnecessarily was therefore made. Rou Rou was surrounded by her devoted caretakers in her final moments and passed away peacefully.
Red pandas are listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, with an average lifespan of eight to 12 years in the wild. It is estimated that there are fewer than 10,000 red pandas left in the wild now. Rou Rou joined the Ocean Park family in 2009 from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding together with fellow red pandas Cong Cong and Tai Shan. Her gentle yet playful nature made her a favourite animal ambassador among visitors. Cong Cong and Tai Shan, who are also 17 years old with some geriatric issues, are currently healthy and stable for their age. Rou Rou will be deeply missed by all staff members of Ocean Park and those who had the privilege to meet her.
