The Oregon Zoo recently welcomed a rare and extremely cute red panda.

Mei Mei, a 3-year-old female, arrived at the zoo in Portland’s west hills earlier this month and is now ready to meet the public.

“We’re so excited to have Mei Mei here,” keeper Sara Morgan said in a statement. “She’s very outgoing and curious — she poked her nose out and started exploring right away.”

Mei Mei grubs on some grapes and bamboo at the Oregon Zoo. Courtesy/Michael Durham/Oregon Zoo

Though they are related to the iconic giant panda, red panda’s share few traits with the bigger black-and-white species. Bearing a slight resemblance to racoons, wild red pandas spend their time using their distinctive red, black and white markings to camouflage themselves among the red mosses and white lichens of their mountainous habitats in Nepal, India, Bhutan, China and Myanmar.

Red panda populations have declined by about 50 percent in the last 20 years and the species is considered endangered. Mei Mei’s arrival at the Oregon Zoo comes on the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan, which aims to bolster the population of species under threat.

Seeing her may be no easy feat, though.

“Red pandas are known for their climbing ability, and Mei Mei is no exception,” Morgan said. “If you visit her at the zoo and don’t spot her right away, be sure to look up — she can often be found lounging in the trees.”

She also spends a fair amount of time napping, Morgan said, so she may be tucked away in her den box.

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048

@sfkale

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