Overview
- Zoo Rostock confirmed that the three-year-old female red panda Jordan died after a fall that the zoo says was caused by a suddenly loosened branch on October 22, 2026.
- Keepers and veterinarians responded immediately but Jordan’s injuries were so severe the team decided to euthanize her to prevent further suffering.
- Jordan was the zoo’s first red panda and arrived from Chomutov in May 2024 when she was about one year old.
- The 860-square-metre outdoor enclosure is now used only by the male red panda Pjat, who came from Copenhagen in May 2025 and is expected to cope alone outside the mating season because red pandas are typically solitary.
- The zoo noted that red pandas are skilled tree climbers but face steep declines in the wild, with fewer than 10,000 mature animals remaining, and the incident highlights questions about outdoor exhibit safety and maintenance though the zoo has not detailed remedial steps.