New home opens for red pandas at Detroit Zoo

The Detroit Zoo has opened a new habitat for red pandas.

The Holtzman Wildlife Foundation Red Panda Forest made its debutthis month at the zoo in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak.

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It'sdesigned to provide a larger and more stimulating naturalisticenvironment for the pandas. And it seeks to help teach people moreabout the animals.

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The zoo is home to three red pandas.

A $500,000 gift from theHoltzman Wildlife Foundation helped fund the roughly $800,000project.The habitat has been expanded and features a flowing stream, alarger pathway through the habitat and misting areas to cool the redpandas in the summer.

A new rope bridge extends 24 metresthrough the trees and provides new views of the animals for zoovisitors.

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