Red panda MOT and dental work at Edinburgh Zoo
Posted 24 Sep 2026
Edinburgh Zoo placed red panda Bruce under general anaesthetic for a health check-up after keepers noticed he was off his food. On closer inspection vets at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) were happy to discover that his only problem was a poorly tooth.
Vets removed the tooth and gave Bruce a full-body MOT to make sure he was otherwise well. He was given a clean bill of health and is now back in his habitat. He can be seen exploring for bamboo and napping in the trees as usual.
Visitors looking to spy Bruce scaling his pine trees can book tickets to Edinburgh Zoo onlineNotes to Editors
Hi-res images available at https://we.tl/t-LXygQq9ZEuR7VF3U
Images are free to use. Please credit RZSS.
Notes to editors:
- Bruce is 11 years old and is the grandfather of Priya, the female red panda who moved into Highland Wildlife Park earlier this year: Red pandas return to Highland Wildlife Park
About the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
- The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is a wildlife conservation charity with a bold vision: a world which protects, values and loves nature
- Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park are gateways to the natural world through which people can experience nature, learn about the challenges facing wildlife and discover how we harness our expertise in conservation science and animal care alongside the unique power of the RZSS family – our teams, supporters and partners – to save animals from extinction
- RZSS received two award wins at the Scottish Thistle Awards 2025 – Climate Action Award for Edinburgh Zoo and Best Visitor Attraction for Highland Wildlife Park
