Top 21 Places to Pet a Red Panda |Red Panda Encounters!


Do you often see exciting photos and videos of people interacting with red pandas? Sadly, not every zoo housing red pandas allows these interactions. 

But this shouldn’t stop you from going to places if you know one. 

This article will show you our top picks to encounter red pandas!

Now, let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Chattanooga Zoo (Tennessee, US)

Chattanooga zoo is a very popular zoo for red panda experiences. This kind of experience allows you to get very close and interact with your favorite red pandas one-on-one. 

Pricing:

$205 per person

Package Includes:

  • Up close red panda interactions
  • Behind-the-scenes access to their environment 
  • A photo of the red panda you encounter (printed)
  • A chance to learn from zookeepers and educationalists
  • A 30 min red panda experience

Requirements:

  • All participants must be aged 7 years or older. 
  • Any participant under the age of 13 must come along with a paying adult. 
  • For every wild encounter with a red panda, you’re required to book 48 hours ahead. 
  • Additionally, every participant should put on facemasks. 

See more details about the Chattanooga red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

301 N Holtzclaw Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37404, USA

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (Ohio, US)

This is another zoo in the US where you can get close and have personal interactions with a red panda. 

Pricing:

$300 for two people. This zoo can take a maximum of three people at $400.

Package Includes:

  • A 30 minutes red panda tour
  • Behind-the-scenes experience
  • Learn about red pandas from the red panda care team

Requirements:

  • Every guest is required to wear masks and long pants during red panda encounters. 
  • To partake in this tour, you should be at least 10 years of age.

See more details about Cincinnati Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA

Red River Zoo (North Dakota, US)

Red pandas happen to be one of the most iconic animals in the Red River Zoo. What’s more, this zoo offers up close and personal interaction with these creatures.

An experience with the red pandas in this zoo is always special and a memory of a lifetime!

Pricing:

$125 per person. And a single encounter is for up to five individuals. 

Package Includes:

  • Visiting the off-exhibit home of the red pandas – a behind-the-scene experience
  • Learning about the daily lifestyle of the red pandas from the zookeepers
  • Feeding one of the red pandas a special treat e.g. bamboo, panda biscuits, or grapes

Requirements:

Interestingly, the encounter is for all ages. However, any participant under 14 should come along with a paying adult.

See more details about Red River Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

4255 23rd Ave S, Fargo, ND 58104, USA

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium (Ohio, US)

Red pandas are one of Columbus zoo’s most adorable creatures. And this zoo offers a red panda encounter. 

It’s an up-close and one-of-a-kind encounter. 

Pricing:

$99 per guest.

Package Includes:

  • Visit the red pandas’ habitat in the zoo – A behind-the-scenes experience
  • Spend time learning about these creatures with the Animal Care team. 
  • A 30 min behind-the-scenes red panda experience

Requirements:

  • Must be 10 years of age or above. 
  • If under 18, a paying adult needs to accompany you.
  • Currently, wearing a facemask is optional in every part of the zoo. 
  • It’s equally important that you wear closed-toed shoes for this experience.

Take Note: 

This encounter does not require admission to the zoo.

See more details about Columbus Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

4850 W Powell Rd, Powell, OH 43065, USA

Oglebay Good Zoo (West Virginia, US)

This is a zoo in the United States that houses red pandas and provides an opportunity for guests to have personal and up-close encounters with them.

Pricing:

$205 per two individuals. 

Interestingly, if three more people are added, the price becomes $25.62 for each of the five participants.

Package Includes:

  • A 45-minute red panda tour
  • Behind-the-scenes experience
  • Learn about the red pandas’ history and conservation
  • Feed and train them as zookeepers direct you.

Requirements:

  • To participate in this tour, you must be at least 5 years old. This is the age limit! 
  • Every participant is also required to wear closed-toe shoes.

See more details about Oglebay Good Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

345 Zoo Cir, Wheeling, WV 26003, USA

Wildlife Safari (Oregon, US)

In this zoo, the red panda encounter is an affordable experience compared to most zoos that do the same. What’s more, it happens daily at the wild safari.

Pricing:

$40 per adult and $20 per child.

Package Includes:

  • Meet the red pandas up close in their habitat in the zoo
  • Feed the red pandas yourself

Take Note: This encounter does not require admission to the zoo.

Requirements:

It’s important that you arrive about 15 to 30 min before your red panda experience.

See more details about Wildlife Safari’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

1790 Safari Road PO Box 1600 Winston, Oregon 97496, USA

Scovill Zoo (Illinois, US)

Red pandas encounter a very extraordinary experience, which happens at Scovill Zoo. This zoo offers you the chance to get pretty close and meet your favorite red pandas!

Pricing:

$200 for four individuals. 

This is equally the maximum number of individuals this zoo allows per encounter.

Package Includes:

  • A 30 mins red panda tour
  • A chance to feed these creatures yourself as zookeepers direct
  • Learn about the red pandas

Requirements:

Only guests that are 8 years old or above can partake in this red panda encounter. 

See more details about Scovill Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

71 South Country Club Road Decatur IL 62521, USA

Paradise Park and JungleBarn Cornwall (Hayle, UK)

In the UK, this park is one of the best places to go if you want to pet a red panda. If you were to travel to the UK for this experience in this zoo, it’s worth it! 

Get to meet a red panda up close and have an amazing experience with them.

Pricing:

£150 per participant (this includes a £25 donation fee). However, two people will pay £250 in total and not £300. 

Similarly, this includes a £50 donation fee for the two persons.

Package Includes:

  • Meet and greet experience with red pandas
  • Have them sit on your lap as you pet them and feed them tasty treats
  • Gain a lot of information about red pandas from the friendly and well-experienced zookeepers
  • Have the zoo take photos of you and the red panda

Requirements:

  • To enjoy this red panda experience at Paradise Park, you must be 10 years old or above. 
  • And if you are between 10-15 years, a paying adult must accompany you for this tour. 
  • Every accompanying adult will only spectate. 
  • Anyone with allergies or phobias relating to this experience cannot partake in it.

See more details about Paradise Park’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

16 Trelissick Rd, Hayle TR27 4HY, United Kingdom

Longleat (Warminster, England)

Having very close interactions with red pandas is a VIP experience that Longleat Park Offers. Get these experiences in the UK’s number-one safari park.

Pricing

£80 per person. Zoo only allows a maximum of four participants per encounter. 

Package Includes:

  • Behind-the-scenes access to meet and greet the red pandas in their zoo habitat
  • Learn about red pandas and their conservation in the zoo from Longleat zookeepers
  • Feed and pet the red pandas yourself with the animal care team’s direction

Requirements:

  • Only participants aged 8 Years and over can participate in this tour. 
  • If you’re between the ages of  8 to 15, an adult must accompany you. 
  • Every accompanying adult needs to have a VIP voucher too. 

See more details about Longleat’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Park:

Warminster BA12 7NW, United Kingdom

Drusillas Park (East Sussex, UK)

This wildlife park equally allows you to go wild with its red panda experiences! Up close interaction with red pandas in Drusillas Park feels magical and quite memorable!

Pricing:

£105 for a single participant and £160 for two! 

Package Includes:

  • Go behind the scenes into the zoo kitchen and help to prepare their snacks
  • Have the red pandas very close to you as you feed them with your hands
  • Personal interaction with a zookeeper who provides answers to all your red panda questions
  • Make your experience more memorable with close photos of these creatures
  • An animal encounter certificate

Requirements:

Drusillas Park red panda experience requires a minimum age of five. Nothing less than this! 

See more details about Drusillas Park’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Park:

Alfriston Rd, East Sussex BN26 5QS, UK

Wingham Wildlife Park (Kent, UK)

This park is not just a home to red pandas but also a place where guests can get closer to these creatures.

Pricing:

£70 per person.

Package Includes:

  • Get answers to all your red panda questions
  • Get close, nose-to-nose, and feed a red panda in its very own enclosure

Requirements:

This experience is only for persons that are at least 9 years old. 

See more details about Wingham Wildlife Park’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Park:

Rusham Rd, Wingham, Canterbury CT3 1JL, UK

Chester Zoo (Cheshire, England)

Get a chance to meet, interact and learn all about these creatures up close in Chester Zoo. 

It’s highly educational as you’ll get first-hand experience of how zookeepers care for these creatures.

Pricing:

£125 per participant This equally includes the zoo admission fee. 

Package Includes:

  • A 45-minute red panda experience
  • Meet and greet red panda experience in their enclosure
  • Learn about them up close
  • Zoo admission for the participants
  • Exclusive Gift and experience certificate

Requirements:

  • Chester Zoo only allows participants aged 11 years or above.
  • Any participant aged from  11 to 15 years old must come along with an adult.
  • The accompanying adult—parent or guardian—must be paying normal zoo admission. And they can only spectate!
  • Sadly, not every guest can partake in this tour. This includes people with known allergies, relevant phobias, and certain health conditions.

See more details about Chester Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

Moston Rd, Upton, Chester CH2 1EU, UK

Shepreth Wildlife Park (Shepreth, England)

This place offers a VIP experience where you can meet red pandas. What’s more, the experience is pretty up close and you’re allowed to pet these creatures here.

Pricing:

£100 per participant. 

Two participants will pay just £175 altogether.

Package Includes:

  • A 30 min red panda tour
  • Access to the red pandas’ enclosure
  • Feeding experiences – Get to feed these cuddly creatures with your own hands

Requirements:

  • Participants must be healthy to partake in this wild tour. 
  • During this red panda experience, you might have to climb ladders and over fences. Hence, the zoo places a body weight restriction of 150kg. (It’s all about your safety!)

See more details about Shepreth Wildlife Park’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Park:

Station Rd, Shepreth, Royston SG8 6PZ, UK

Manor Wildlife Park (Pembrokeshire, Wales)

Another place in the UK, to get red pandas and have very close interaction with them is the Manor Wildlife Park.

With their red panda experience, you’ll get to know more about these creatures and how the zoo cares for them. 

Pricing:

£90 per participant.

Package Includes:

  • Behind-the-scenes access to explore the red pandas’ home in the zoo
  • Meet the red pandas in this zoo, especially the park’s cutest sisters, Betty and Cherry!
  • Spend about half an hour feeding red pandas their favorite treats
  • One-on-one chat with the experienced red panda keepers. They’ll answer all your red panda questions
  • A free entry to the park for the participant of this experience

Requirements:

Note that the minimum age for this experience is seven. A participant should either be 7 years old or above.

See more details about Manor Wildlife Park’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Park:

St Florence, Tenby SA70 8RJ, UK

Symbio Zoo (Helensburgh, Australia)

Every red panda lover will have an experience of a lifetime interacting with the red pandas in this Zoo. Symbio Zoo is one of the best places in Australia to meet red pandas up close and equally pet them. 

Pricing:

$150 per person. However, the price becomes $100 per participant if there is an additional person. 

The zoo allows a maximum of two participants for every red panda encounter.

Package Includes:

  • Meet and greet red panda experience
  • Get to feed these creatures with your own hands
  • Learn about the red pandas from well-experienced zookeepers.

Requirements:

  • Every participant in this red panda experience is expected to be 8 years old and above. 
  • Wearing facemasks during the encounter is also an important requirement.

See more details about Symbio Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Park:

7-11 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Helensburgh NSW 2508, Sydney Australia

Tasmania Zoo (Tasmania, Australia)

Red panda encounters in Tasmania Zoo allow you to get very close and interact with red pandas.

Pricing:

$80 per person.

Package Includes:

  • Meet, greet and interact with red pandas in their enclosure
  • Learn about red pandas and their conservation in the Zoo from the Animal Care team
  • A free photograph of your red panda experience in a Tasmania Zoo gift pack

Requirements:

  • Tasmania Zoo red panda encounters are for participants aged 8 years or above.
  • Every participant must gain admission into the Zoo before booking a red panda encounter.

See more details about Tasmania Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

1166 Ecclestone Road Riverside, TAS 7250, Australia 

Australia Zoo (Beerwah, Australia)

Red pandas are one of the amazing residents in the Australia Zoo. This zoo offers a “Rascally Red Panda Encounter” of which the experience is firsthand. 

That’s right! It’s an opportunity to feel how soft and fuzzy these creatures are!

Pricing:

$99 per person. 

Every red panda encounter can only accommodate two participants.

Package Includes:

  • Experienced and friendly zookeepers will teach you everything you need to know about the red pandas
  • Have these cute creatures eat out of your hand
  • Get one digital download of your red panda experience

Requirements:

  • The age limit for this experience is 8 years. 
  • Any child between the ages of 8 to 14 should come along with a paying adult. 
  • Funnily, you must be about 140 cm (4’7) tall to partake in this red panda experience.

See more details about Australia Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah QLD 4519, Australia 

Billabong Koala & Wildlife Park (Port Macquarie, Australia)

This zoo offers a personal animal encounter where you can meet and closely interact with red pandas. And the photos and video part of it help to create a memorable experience.

Pricing:

$60 per individual.

NOTE:
This zoo only allows one participant for every red panda encounter. 

What’s more, this price includes a zoo admission fee.

Package Includes:

  • Get close and personal with the zoo’s red pandas
  • Hand-feed the red pandas their favorite treat
  • Get answers to your red panda questions from experienced zookeepers. 

Requirements:

  • If you successfully book this encounter, you need to arrive 20 min before the time of your red panda tour. 
  • Only participants ages 14 or above can partake in this red panda encounter. 

See more details about Billabong Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

61 Billabong Drive Port Macquarie NSW 2444, Australia 

National Zoo & Aquarium (Canberra, Australia)

This zoo offers a red panda encounter that lets you meet and pet these creatures in their enclosure. In addition, this wildlife experience turns you into a zookeeper for red pandas for a little while.

Pricing:

$125 per participant. And this doesn’t include the zoo Entry fee.

Additionally, the zoo allows a maximum of two participants per encounter.

Package Includes:

  • A 15 minutes red panda experience 
  • Behind-the-scenes access to the red pandas’ zoo habitat
  • Meet and feed these red pandas 

Requirements:

  • Participants must purchase the zoo Entry to be able to partake in this encounter. 
  • The minimum age for this experience is 12 years.

See more details about National Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

999 Lady Denman Dr, Yarralumla ACT 2611, Australia

Mogo Wildlife Park (Mogo, Australia)

If you want to pet a panda so badly, then head over to the Mogo Wildlife Park. This park offers one of the most up-close red panda experiences you could ever get! 

Pricing:

$200 for two participants.

 Package Includes:

  • Pet these creatures and feel the softness of their fur
  • Hand-feed red pandas their favorite treats

Requirements:

  • Must be 12 years old and above to take part in this experience.
  • Children between the ages of 12 and 15 should come along with a paying adult.
  • For every encounter, you are required to wear a facemask. 

Take Note:

This package does not include admission to the zoo. 

See more details about Mogo Wildlife Park’s red panda encounter on their website! 

Visit the Zoo:

222 Tomakin Road, Mogo, NSW 2536, Australia

Wellington Zoo (Wellington, New Zealand)

Have a chance to pet a red panda in Wellington Zoo’s Red Panda Close Encounter. This encounter offers you the chance to play with these creatures! 

It’s a memorable experience and way more than just meeting red pandas close up.

Pricing:

$149 per individual. This includes the Zoo Entry fee.

Package Includes:

  • Get answers to all your red panda questions from the zoo’s animal experts
  • Have a photo of you and a red panda on your lap taken. Bring your camera along!
  • Find out how these close red panda encounters help the zoo in red panda conservation

Requirements:

  • All participants should be 6 years old and above for this experience.
  • If you’re between the age of 6 and 13, you’ll need to come along with someone that’s 14 years old or above.
  • This person should have booked and paid with you for the up-close red panda encounter.

See more details about Wellington Zoo’s red panda encounter on their website!

Visit the Zoo:

200 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand

In Summary

Now that’s our list of the top places to go to pet and interact with red pandas worldwide.

Before you go, you should understand that these red pandas equally benefit from animal encounters. It’s not just about entertaining humans! 

These encounters help to give red pandas an enriched life. It fires up the curiosity and senses of these creatures.

In addition, red panda experiences are the perfect presents or gifts for your loved ones, especially animal lovers.

It’s worth it to have an up-close moment with animals as matter a lot. 

That’s right! Here are 11amazing reasons why red pandas matter to the world!