Lake Superior Zoo Staff Mourning Loss Of Red Panda Pip

This is very sad news to start the week. The Lake Superior Zoo shared some somber news this morning: one of their animals has died.

Staff with the Lake Superior Zoo shared a touching tribute to Pip, the red panda who joined the crew back in April. The public was introduced to Pip in June.

According to their post, Pip went into her den box around 10 p.m. on the night of August 1st and never came back out.

Staff says there was no weird or unusual behavior in the days leading up to losing Pip. This is a huge loss for staff and the community.

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Pip was one year old and came to the Lake Superior Zoo earlier this year under some incredible circumstances: she was selected to come to Duluth as part of the Species Survival Plan, which monitors red pandas in zoos and aquariums all over the place.

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Pip came to the Lake Superior Zoo from Massachusetts, where she was a resident at Buttonwood Park Zoo. She was one of two red pandas born at the time, and was very small.

In happier news, you can still visit and see Zoozee, the other red panda at the Lake Superior Zoo. She was introduced to us back in April of last year. The two red pandas quickly became fan favorites at the zoo.

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You can also stop and see the zoo's newest additions: two sand cats named Tony and Pumpkin! So much cuteness, I can't even handle it.

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