The Minnesota Zoo Red Panda Forest is now open! Come visit the red pandas, tufted deer, and red-crowned cranes.
UPDATE: Saturday September 20th is International Red Panda Day! To celebrate, animal educators will be on hand in the Red Panda Forest habitat to tell us all about the adorable creatures. For instance, did you know, the red panda’s signature ruddy coat color isn’t just cute; it acts as camouflage? It matches the moss on the canopy of the trees where they naturally reside.
We’ll also have the chance to chat with the keepers about caring for the pandas and other animals inside the habitat.
The Minnesota Zoo opened their latest exhibit: Red Panda Forest. My kids and I had the opportunity to check it out and we think it’s a great addition to the Minnesota Zoo! My son learned a lot about red pandas at school this year and it was fun to hear him share his knowledge with us.
The stars of the show in the Red Panda Forest are siblings, Cedar and Spruce. Born in 2024, they along with their sister make up a set of triplets which are super rare for red pandas! Red pandas are endangered in the wild and face a very high risk of extinction due to habitat loss and other factors. I love how the Minnesota Zoo is helping this species continue on for generations to come.
We did see the one of the siblings hiding in their cave inside the habitat– he was super cute! We visited during the rain, but luckily this whole area is enclosed so visitors can see all 3 kinds of animals under the same roof!
Also inside the Red Panda Forest is another enclosure with both the tufted deer and the red-crowned cranes. There are two tufted deer, Douglas and Gertrude. Their species are considered near threatened.
We really loved the bonded pair of red-crowned crane sisters. Don’t let the name fool you– they aren’t red yet! At 2 years old their distinctive red heads will develop. Red-crowned cranes are the second rarest type of crane in the world!
We had a great time visiting the Red Panda Forest and think it’s a great addition to the Minnesota Zoo! Summer is amazing time to visit– so many animals are outside, there’s the fun Treetop Trail, the amazing Sea Lion Show, multiple nature playgrounds, the Dino Hideout, splash pad and so much more.
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Hannah is a married mom of 3 kiddos in the Twin Cities. Born and raised here in MN, she loves finding deals and special events to share with others.
Hannah enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading books, going on road trips up north, singing along with the radio and finding new thrift stores to shop! Hannah is also a fierce advocate for people with disabilities and is always on the lookout for more sensory friendly opportunities in the Twin Cities.
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