Sad goodbye to "Sir Snacks-a-lot," beloved red panda Moshu

The Oregon Zoo is mourning the loss of beloved red panda Moshu, who passed away peacefully this morning, more than a year after being diagnosed with severe heart disease.

Nicknamed “Sir Snacks-a-Lot,” Moshu was a favorite on the zoo’s social media channels, known for his adorable bleps and “snack quests” in search of bamboo, apple slices and other red panda delicacies.

“He was an incredible ambassador for his species,” said Rachel Ritchason, the zoo’s deputy director for animal care. “He inspired millions of people and brightened so many lives.”

At nearly 14, Moshu was considered elderly for red pandas. In recent years, his care team adjusted his habitat and routine — softening his favorite biscuits to make snack time easier and brushing his tail to help with grooming. Ramps were added throughout his habitat for easier climbing, and cold-laser therapy helped him stay limber and active.

“Moshu lived longer than any of us expected, and he had an amazing quality of life right until the end,” Ritchason said. “It’s a great testament to his care team that he was able to manage a serious condition like that for such a long time. We just focused on making every day as comfortable as possible for him.”

The Oregon Zoo is well known for its specialized geriatric care and has been home to some of the oldest animals in the world. Zoo veterinarians and keeper staff work together, developing innovative ways to make sure the animals in their care have a great quality of life throughout their golden years.

Sadly, the zoo has had to say goodbye to some of best-known senior citizens this spring.

“It has been a rough time for us,” Ritchason said “Tilly the river otter passed at the end of April, and last week we lost Strike the cheetah. It’s not surprising when you have so many older animals in your population, but that doesn’t make the losses any easier.”

Born June 20, 2011, at the Red River Zoo in Fargo, North Dakota, Moshu arrived here from the Nashville Zoo in 2019. He fathered four cubs during his lifetime, including Pabu, born here in 2020 and now living at ZooMontana.

Red pandas are considered endangered, with populations declining by about 50% over the past 25 years. While exact numbers are uncertain, estimates indicate as few as 2,500 may be left in the wild. In addition to habitat loss and fragmentation, red pandas also face threats from poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.

Though they share part of their name with giant pandas, red pandas are in a class all by themselves: The sharp-toothed, ring-tailed omnivores are the only members of the Ailuridae family. Found in the montane forests of the Himalayas and major mountain ranges of southwestern China, their striking red, white and black fur provides camouflage in the shadowed nooks of the trees among reddish moss and white lichens.