Overview

• San Francisco Zoo & Gardens announced that Tenzing, its 12-year-old Himalayan red panda ambassador, passed away peacefully on July 10 after intensive veterinary intervention.
• Advanced imaging and testing conducted in partnership with San Francisco Animal Medical Center identified sarcocystosis—a parasitic infection known to affect red pandas—as the likely cause of death.
• Tenzing had endured worsening neurological symptoms and balance troubles since late 2024, prompting an extensive diagnostic work-up by the zoo’s veterinary team.
• Arriving in 2014 under the AZA Species Survival Plan, Tenzing became a fan favorite for his playful somersaults, voluntary healthcare behaviors and watercolor paintings.
• With fewer than 10,000 red pandas estimated in the wild, the zoo will continue captive breeding efforts and strengthen global partnerships to support long-term species survival.