‘Ambassador for his species’: Parasite claims SF Zoo’s endangered Himalayan red panda

Tenzing, a 12-year-old male red panda known for his playful charm and viral antics, has died at the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens after a rapid decline in health caused by a parasitic infection, zoo officials said.

The Himalayan red panda, a fan favorite since his arrival in 2014, had recently shown intermittent neurological symptoms, including balance issues. Despite extensive diagnostics and intensive treatment, zoo veterinarians determined sarcocystosis, a rare parasitic disease known to affect red pandas, was the likely cause. Tenzing passed peacefully under veterinary care, zoo officials said Thursday.