ELMWOOD PARK ZOO MOURNS LOSS
OF RED PANDA
www.elmwoodparkzoo.org
1661 Harding Blvd
Norristown, PA 19401
P: 610.277.3825
F: 610.292.0332
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 1/6/2017
NORRISTOWN – It is with heavy hearts that Elmwood Park Zoo announces the death of 2-yearold red panda Shredder. Shredder was found unresponsive in the early morning hours on
Wednesday, January 4. The initial results of Shredder’s necropsy, or animal autopsy, discovered
an enlarged heart, thickened heart walls and pulmonary edema, all signs of heart disease.
On the evening of January 3, animal care staff noticed Shredder showed an onset of labored
breathing. The zoo’s veterinarian and zookeepers performed an emergency evaluation and found
that Shredder had an irregular heartbeat and fluid in his lungs. Despite medical treatment,
Shredder succumbed within a few hours.
“Shredder showed no signs of illness and was even seen eating bamboo throughout the day. Just
as in people, animals’ hearts can be abnormal without any clinical signs,” explained Dr. Adam
Denish, Elmwood Park Zoo’s veterinarian. Shredder’s yearly exam revealed no signs of heart
disease. Histopathology samples have been sent to a pathology service to confirm the zoo’s
findings.
“Research from zoos across the country shows that heart disease such as cardiomyopathy can be
a common cause of death in young red pandas,” said Denish.
Shredder’s brother, Slash, is scheduled for an echocardiogram to confirm that his heart is healthy.
Born on June 26, 2014, Shredder was one of three red panda brothers that arrived at the Elmwood
Park Zoo from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in the spring of 2015. His brother,
Clinger, passed away in December 2015 of encephalitis caused by a brain parasite.
Shredder and his brothers have been guest and staff favorites since their arrival and he will be
deeply missed. Unfortunately, red pandas are an endangered species with less than 10,000 living
in the wild. Conservation efforts aim to preserve their natural habitats in China and Nepal. Learn
more at www.redpandanetwork.org.
Contact:
Shaun Rogers
Marketing Director
Elmwood Park Zoo
Phone: 610.277.3825 ext. 233
Email: [email protected]
Elmwood Park Zoo’s mission is to foster an appreciation of wildlife and their habitat that will inspire active participation in conservation.
1661 Harding Boulevard Norristown, PA 19401 P. 610.277.3825 F. 610.292.0332 www.elmwoodparkzoo.org