A red panda called Ember has proved to be the most popular animal at Dudley Zoo, after topping the adoption list for the second year running.

The zoo team sent out more adoption packages for the two-year-old female red panda over the Christmas season than any other species on site. Marketing Manager Andrea Hales, said:

“Ember took the top title last year from our Linne’s two-toed sloths, but has continued to prove incredibly popular with our visitors over the last 12 months, with sloths Flo and Reggie taking second and third place.”

Last year Ember was joined by a one year-old male red panda, named Carko, who arrived from Sweden as part of an international breeding programme.

Staff also spent several months transforming the red panda hillside habitat for the pair, building a new large, wooden climbing frame, nesting boxes, an indoor on-show house, as well as new fencing, signage and glass windows around a redeveloped public viewing area.

Other festive favourite adoptions include Humboldt penguins Bluey, Bingo, Chilli and Bandit. Andrea added:

“We’re extremely grateful to everyone who purchases an adoption package from DZC throughout the year as all money raised goes towards the zoo’s conservation work both here at the zoo and supporting projects around the globe.”

Find out more about DZC’s animal adoption packages by visiting dudleyzoo.org.uk.