A brain condition caused by a parasite killed a young red panda last month just months after his grand debut at a suburban Philadelphia zoo.
Clinger, an 18-month-old red panda, died Nov. 29 at Norristown's Elmwood Park Zoo.
Elmwood Park Zoo veterinarian Dr. Adam Denish performed a necropsy on Clinger after the furry animal was found unresponsive but found no obvious cause of death. A zoological pathologist looked over tissue samples and determined that Clinger died from meningo-encephalitis -- a brain disease (similar to the encephalitis in humans) likely caused by a protozoa or parasite.
“Unfortunately the are no simple tests to check for this illness without conducting a biopsy of the brain,” said Denish.
In a strange twist, a parasite also killed Clinger's mother, Shama.
Clinger was one of three red panda brothers that came to the Norristown, Pennsylvania zoo from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute this past spring and made their debut in June.
After the death, the zoo performed full examinations of the Clinger’s brothers Shredder and Slash and found both animals to be healthy.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Red pandas are an endangered species resembling a raccoon that feeds on bamboo and are traditionally found in southwestern Asia.
