Min, Minnesota Zoo's Red Panda, Dies After Battling Health Issues

APPLE VALLEY, MN — The Minnesota Zoo announced Friday that its red panda Min died last week.

Min, the only red panda at Minnesota Zoo, was a favorite animal of many visitors and staff members, the zoo said.

She died at 10-years-old after battling health issues in the last several months, having lost interest in exploring her enclosure and eating, the zoo said.

Min was born in an Oklahoma zoo in 2011, moving to the Minnesota Zoo in 2012, the zoo said. She was shyer than most red pandas but eventually began to trust and bond with her favorite zookeeper Melissa, the zoo said.

Recently, Min was the star of the zoo's ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge, in which students were challenged to design enrichment for her, the zoo said.

It’s with heavy hearts we report Min, our red panda, died last week. This is a difficult loss; Min was a favorite of guests and staff and an ambassador for her wild counter parts. We are thankful for all who cared for and about Min over the years. https://t.co/ZE5zCLcSsI pic.twitter.com/Kw4mbQstL2
— Minnesota Zoo (@mnzoo) July 23, 2021