**Folly Farm Bids Farewell to Last Red Panda, Marking the End of an Era**
A well-loved Welsh zoo is coming to terms with the loss of its last red panda, bringing a poignant close to a memorable chapter at Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo in Pembrokeshire. On 31 July 2025, Folly Farm confirmed the passing of Lotus, a 12-year-old female red panda, a fixture at the park since 2018 and a favourite among both staff and visitors.
Lotus’s decline began earlier this year, after she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in March. Despite ongoing care from her dedicated keepers, her condition worsened significantly in recent days, prompting a difficult decision. The zoo stated that, given her age and poor prognosis, the most compassionate option was to put her to sleep and end her suffering. Folly Farm shared the news online, expressing their deep sadness and highlighting Lotus’s gentle nature.
The loss comes hard on the heels of another tragedy for the zoo: Baika, the park’s male red panda, died just two months prior. Baika, who was eight years old, was believed to have suffered a heart attack in May, further compounding the sense of loss for the zoo’s community and supporters.
Since her arrival in the summer of 2018, Lotus has been a central attraction at Folly Farm’s Asian Adventure exhibit. As a species that naturally draws admiration for its striking appearance and engaging behaviour, red pandas such as Lotus have played a key role in fostering interest in exotic wildlife and conservation among the park’s many visitors.
Folly Farm’s tribute to their departed red panda was heartfelt, with a social media post reflecting on Lotus’s impact. “She was sweet in nature and had been with us since the Asian Adventure exhibit first opened,” the statement read. “She will be greatly missed by her keepers and visitors alike. We hope to welcome red pandas back to Folly Farm in the future.”
The deaths of both Lotus and Baika have left a void in the zoo’s animal collection, with no red pandas currently residing at Folly Farm. The park has publicly expressed its intention to once again house these captivating creatures and has expressed hope for future arrivals, recognising the important role that red pandas play in their educational and conservation programmes.
Supporters and visitors have responded to the news with an outpouring of sympathy for the Folly Farm team, acknowledging the tough decisions that are sometimes necessary in caring for ageing animals. The wellbeing of the animals remains a clear priority for the keepers, who are now facing an emotionally challenging period as they adjust to life at the park without two of their most beloved inhabitants.
Red pandas, native to the Himalayas and southwestern China, are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), making the care for each individual in captivity all the more significant. Zoos like Folly Farm often participate in international breeding and conservation schemes aimed at safeguarding the future of the species.
As the Folly Farm community reflects on the loss, attention turns to the future. With a commitment to animal welfare and ongoing involvement in conservation, the park hopes that new red pandas will once again grace its enclosures. In the interim, those who care for these animals—and the many who visit Folly Farm—will remember Lotus and Baika for their charm and the inspiration they provided to all who encountered them.