Maryland Zoo breaks ground on new red panda habitat
The first of several new habitats will house red pandas. The project is expected to be completed in 2026, according to zookeepers.
"Maryland Zoo celebrates its 150th anniversary next year, and you don't get to be as venerable as we are without constant reinvention," said Maryland Zoo President and CEO Kirby Fowler. "When complete in 2026, the red panda habitat will bring dynamic, charismatic animals right to the front of our zoo."
Red panda habitat at Maryland Zoo
The new red panda habitat will be located between the round cafe and the round stand in the Main Valley section of the zoo.
The Maryland Zoo will break ground Thursday on a project that will bring new animals to the oldest part of the property.
The Maryland Zoo
The area recently housed a snowy owl, but it was designed to support breeding red pandas.
According to zookeepers, red pandas are technically not part of either the panda or bear family, but they are fun and engaging animals.
The new habitat will highlight conservation efforts to connect the forested highlands between Nepal and India through reforestation.
Maryland Zoo renovations
The Main Valley section of the zoo is the oldest on the property. It's where the zoo initially housed exotic animals when it first opened in 1876.
Since then, the zoo has expanded and renovated other parts of the property. In 2022, zoo leaders established a 10-year plan to renovate Main Valley.
The plan includes new state-of-the-art habitats to house red pandas and gibbons. The habitats will prioritize the welfare of the animals.
The zoo has also renovated its historic Crane Barn and brought birds back to the front of the zoo.
"This is the first of many zoo improvements that started with our new parking lot last year and will continue with a gibbon habitat, a flyway for our eagle and snowy owl, and upgrades to our rental facilities and guest amenities," Fowler said.
Maryland Zoo welcomes new life
The Maryland Zoo welcomed new life recently, with the births of a baby blue duiker, a baby lemur and the surprising addition of a female giraffe calf.
The baby blue duiker, a type of small antelope, was born in April to mother Flower and father Kuruka.
A one-and-a-half-pound baby blue duiker was born at the Maryland Zoo, staff announced in April 2025.
The Maryland Zoo
The animals stay relatively small, at about seven to 20 pounds, and they live up to 10 years.
The baby lemur born in late April was the first birth of the endangered species since they returned to the zoo in 2023.
On April 24, zookeepers announced the arrival of a baby lemur to the zoo, saying it was the first birth since the endangered species returned in 2023.
The Maryland Zoo
The arrival of a baby giraffe in March left zookeepers surprised. She arrived shortly after the zoo welcomed a 4-year-old female giraffe, who they didn't know was pregnant at the time.
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