Red Panda Shardul Settles Into His New Home at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

A 10-year-old Red Panda has made a smooth and confident arrival at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast – and keepers couldn’t be happier with how he’s settling in.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is welcoming Shardul, a 10-year-old male Red Panda who has recently relocated from Halls Gap Zoo in Victoria. From his flight to the Gold Coast and health check at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, through to his first days exploring his brand new habitat, Shardul has taken every step of the journey in his stride – eating well, scent marking his territory, and winning over keepers from the moment he arrived.

From Victoria to the Gold Coast: Shardul’s Journey

Wildlife Keeper Alice Greenup was there to welcome Shardul and says his composure throughout the whole process was remarkable.

“He came over on the plane from Halls Gap Zoo. It was a little bit of a trip for him but he handled it really well and he’s nice and settled now,” she said.

“He’s a very bold, very confident Red Panda and he honestly did better than expected. Pretty much as soon as I opened the door he had his head out ready to go. I used a couple of grapes just to get him moving a bit, but then he got straight into exploring – very confident. Lots of scent marking, which is a really great sign that he’s nice and comfortable.”

Keepers report that Shardul is now eating well and happily taking in his new surroundings at the Sanctuary’s Lost Valley precinct.

Red Pandas Matter: A Species Under Threat

Shardul’s arrival is more than a feel-good moment – it’s a meaningful contribution to global conservation efforts. Fewer than 10,000 Red Pandas are estimated to remain in the wild, with the species listed as endangered due to ongoing habitat loss, climate change, and poaching across their native range in the cool mountain forests of the Himalayas.

As an ambassador for his species, Shardul offers Gold Coast visitors a genuinely rare encounter with an animal few Australians ever get to see up close.

Red Panda Facts You Might Not Know

Red Pandas are instantly recognisable for their striking rust-coloured coats and ringed tails, but there’s more to them than their good looks:

The false thumb: Red Pandas have an extended wrist bone that functions like a thumb, giving them a surprisingly precise grip on bamboo.
Built for the cold: Their paws are covered in thick fur, acting as natural insulation against the icy mountain conditions of their Himalayan home.
Solitary by nature: In the wild, Red Pandas are largely solitary and territorial – making Shardul’s confident scent-marking a very healthy sign of settling in.

Visit Shardul at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

You can meet Shardul in person at the Lost Valley precinct at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast. Whether you’re a lifelong Red Panda fan or introducing the kids to one of the world’s most endangered mammals, it’s a wildlife encounter well worth the visit.