Potter Park Zoo Mourns Loss of Red Panda   

LANSING, MI – Potter Park Zoo is saddened to announce the death of Harley, a 10-year old male red
panda.

“The red pandas are very charming and a favorite among our guests,” says Zoo Director Gerry Brady.
Harley came to Potter Park Zoo in November 2009 after a recommendation by the Red Panda Species
Survival Plan (SSP) to transfer him from Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, IL. The SSP keeps records of
all animals in captivity and advises zoos on breeding plans to perpetuate each species. Harley was
believed to be a good genetic match for Daisy, a 5-year old female red panda. Harley quickly became ill
last week and went into surgery on Thursday, December 1. Unfortunately, he did not survive through
the procedure.

“Harley suffered from gastric torsion, which is a condition in which the stomach twists and becomes
overstretched by excessive gas,” explains Dr. Tara Harrison, veterinarian at Potter Park Zoo. “This is
common among dogs and other deep-chested animals. It is thought to be uncommon in red pandas,
though research on the species is fairly new so this is a unique case.”

Potter Park Zoo is eager for the arrival of a new female red panda on Wednesday, December 7 from
Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska. Daisy, Potter Park Zoo’s former female red panda, was shipped to
Denver Zoo last week and arrived there safely. Both of these transfers are a result of recommendations
by the Red Panda SSP, and the SSP will likely recommend a male red panda transfer to Potter Park
Zoo in the near future.

Potter Park Zoo is located at 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave. within Potter Park along the Red Cedar River
in Lansing, Michigan. The zoo is open daily year-round, winter hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more
information, call (517) 483-4222 or visit www.potterparkzoo.org.

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