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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Red panda research in

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Catbear keeping since 1997

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Enclosure characteristicsA) a large naturalistic exhibitB) exhibit layout and planting to emulate a natural habitat in ChinaC) aesthetically appealing exhibit (through the use of a transparent perimeter,

for example)D) a mixed exhibit featuring red pandas and Chinese muntjacs as well as white-

eared pheasants and blue magpies as attractive representatives of their central Asian habitat

1. Enclosure for red pandas and Chinese muntjacs - 1100 m²2. Aviary for white-eared pheasants and blue magpies - 165 m²3. Visitor area (China pavilion, playground) - 300 m²

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Enclosure characteristics

PLAYGROUND

CHINESE PAVILION

SECRET PATH

AVIARY FORWHITE EARED PHEASANTS

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Enclosure - plant listTrees:Aralia chinensis Davidia involucrata var. Vilmor. Juniperus x media Sorbus vilmorinii Taxus baccata Tilia x euchlora Tsuga canadensis

Other Plants: Aconitum henryi Aconitum charmichaelii Corydalis lutea Ligularia dentata Ligularia wilsoniana M. integrifolia Meconopsis betonicifolia Mentha longifolia P. odoratum P. verticillatum Paeonia officinalis Polygonatum multiflorum Primula dendiculata Rodgersia aescusifolia Sasaella aigentea

Vines:Clematis montana

Shrubs: Cornus controversa`variegata Decaisnea fargesii Phyllostachys aureosulcata Rhododendron camchaticum Rhododendron canadense Rhododendron catawbiense-hybr. Rhododendron insigne brigitte Rhododendron kelecticum Rhododendron lavendula Rhododendron oreodoxa Rhododendron vaseyi Rhododendron wardii `goldbukett Sasa palmata Sinarundinaria murielae Sinarundinaria nitida

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Enclosure - plants

Davidia involucrataDove Tree

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Enclosure - plants

Magnolia x soulangianaTulip tree

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Enclosure - plants

Sinarundinaria nitidaBamboo

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Activity research in 1998

Activity patterns of two female red pandas in August/September 1998 (SA=Sunrise, SU=Sunset)

Publication 2001Zoologischer Garten 71: 209-220Remarks on Feeding Behaviour and Activity of Red Pandas (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) in a large exhibitAnmerkungen zum Nahrungsverhalten und zur Aktivität Roter Pandas (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) in einem großen FreigehegeA. Gebauer, Görlitz & S. Engler, Dresden

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Activity research in 1998Ruhen

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Activity research in 1998

Lokomotion

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Activity research in 1998

Comparison of the activity pattern of a wild red panda (Johnson et al. 1988) in China (Wolong) with the pattern of two zoo animals in Naturschutz-Tierparks Görlitz

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Naturschutz-Tierpark Görlitz

Wolong (Johnson et al. 1988)

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t i v

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bimodal daily activity pattern, crepuscular with substantial nocturnal activity

Sept./Okt. 1998

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

First male in 2000

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

First pairing in 2001

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Breeding since 2001

2001-2007 5 litters with 8 cubs

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

2007 – BBC request

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Red Panda

Box for filming and research

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

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Red Panda

Birth of a female – 06/06/2007

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

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Red Panda

Continuous observations

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Video records with security cameraSaved on a hard-disc recorderRecordings checkedAll behaviors notedImportant scenes saved digitally

In addition:Some sound recordingsSingle observations outside den

of dam and cub behaviour between 09/06/2007 and 10/02/2008

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

First resultsMaternal care and cub development

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Nest building behaviour

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Red Panda

Denning time of dam

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70Cub-age (days)

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ay

65 days 138 days

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Red Panda

Cub sleeping

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Cub sleeping week 1

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65 days

150 days

4 days

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Red Panda

Nursing activities

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Nursing-bouts

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Daily number of nursing-bouts

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Daily nursing-time

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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70Cub-age (days)

h:m

24.10.0715:43:00

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Red Panda

Cub carrying

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

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utes

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Play Behaviour

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Play Behaviour

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Play BehaviourInitiation behaviorsBite Move Incomplete biting with open mouth (no bite the other animal)Head Shake Shaking head back and forth/up and down (oriented toward another animal)Paw Laying Careful and markedly slow paw laying on the back of the other animalPaw Move Incomplete paw swat: Holding up of paw, but not swat the opponentBackwards Approach Approaching to the opponent with (back)side.

Play bout behaviorsClimb With paw contact to another animalStand Over On hind legs and perpendicular to the other animal’s body, contact with pawsBite Mouth on some part of the other animal: pulling, visibly stretching the opponent’s skin or chewing its

fur

Claw Swiping movements at opponent’s body with front and/or back paws, from laying position, and thrusting body forward

Paw Swat Beating another animal with paw(s) - making brief physical contact, standing on hind legs

Termination behaviorsBreak Away Breaking contact with other animal, remaining without contact or orientation Push Lifting of fore or hind paws and placing pressure on the opponent to break a bite-hold

Turn Twisting and/or rolling to break a bite-hold

Ethogram of social play

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Play Behaviour

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Vocalizations

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0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0

6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0 10.5

11.5 12.0 12.5 13.0 13.5 14.0 14.5 15.0 15.5 16.0

Freq

uenc

y (k

Hz)

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ailful-11-16-22sum.wav, 7 weeks, 25.07.2007

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11.5 12.0 12.5 13.0 13.5 14.0 14.5 15.0 15.5 16.0

Freq

uenc

y (k

Hz)

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ailful01.wav, 3 months, 19.09.2002

Squeaking during suckling

Distress calls of a sick cub

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Vocalizations

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 s

2468

10

Freq

uenc

y (k

Hz)

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 s

2468

10

Freq

uenc

y (k

Hz) ailful-cherub-copula-03.wav

Male during pairing – whistles-chirp

Cub first day – whistles and chirps

ailful-cherub-juv1day-02.wav

Sound from film „Cherub of the mist“

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

Vocalizations

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 s

2468

10

Freq

uenc

y (k

Hz) ailful-03.wav, juv. 7 weeks, 25.07.2007

Puffing/attack snorts

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 s

2468

10

Freq

uenc

y (k

Hz) ailful-15.wav, female, 25.07.2007

Sniffing noises after attack

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Red Panda

Red Panda Research, Axel Gebauer, Oct. 2008

With confidence into the future