Vienna, Austria - December 19, 2024 The Christmas spirit has arrived at Vienna Zoo, bringing festive cheer to the red pandas with a special surprise high up in their new climbing frame. The zookeepers treated the climbing enthusiasts to a Christmas tree adorned with carrot tinsel, steamed bamboo bread, and pear rings — a sweet treat they rarely enjoy. “We usually only give pears as a grated ingredient in bamboo bread, so the pear rings were a special highlight for them,” said zoo director Dr. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck. The red pandas, known for their love of sweet fruit, were overjoyed by the festive offering. Since November, the red pandas have been settling into a much larger enclosure next to the rainforest house, sharing their space with the small-clawed otters. Despite living in the same habitat, the two species have very different lifestyles — the red pandas prefer the trees, while the otters stay on the ground and in the water. “Although they live in different habitats, their natural ranges in Southeast Asia partially overlap,” Hering-Hagenbeck explained. “Both species are also sadly endangered or critically endangered in the wild.” The holiday tree, however, was reserved solely for the red pandas to enjoy, marking a joyful occasion in their new home at the zoo.