Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has welcomed its cutest new resident, a 10-year-old Red Panda.
Shardul has arrived from Halls Gap Zoo in Victoria and is set to join four-year-old female Zeya.
Keepers will gradually introduce the pair over time.
Shardul has undergone extensive health checks following his arrival and has already had a chance to explore his new surroundings.
Image: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
“He came over on the plane from Halls Gap Zoo. It was a little bit of a trip for him but he handled it really well and he’s nice and settled now,” Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Keeper Alice Greenup said.
“He’s a very bold, very confident Red Panda and he honestly did better than expected. Pretty much as soon as I opened the door he had his head out ready to go.
“I used a couple of grapes just to get him moving a bit, but then he got straight into exploring – very confident. Lots of scent marking, which is a really great sign that he’s nice and comfortable.”
Red Pandas are native to the mountain forests of the Himalayas.
It’s estimated there are less than 10,000 Red Pandas in the wild with the species listed as endangered and under pressure from habitat loss, climate change and poaching.
