An endangered red panda named Priya has made a charming and much-anticipated arrival at Highland Wildlife Park, delighting keepers as the species returns to the park.

The three-year-old female, with thick fur and bright, alert eyes, travelled from Edinburgh Zoo on Tuesday, March 31. 

Her journey north marked the beginning of a new chapter – one captured in a series of heartwarming images showing her first tentative steps into her new Highland home.

In the striking photographs, Priya is seen perched on a tree branch, staring curiously at the camera capturing her first moves in her new residence. 

Her arrival signals what conservationists describe as a ‘long-awaited return’ for the species, which has been absent from the park for some time.

Keepers have revealed that Priya will soon be joined by a male companion, with hopes high that the pair will form a successful breeding match.

Her new enclosure, carefully designed by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), is set on a wooded hillside.  With towering trees and climbing structures, the new red panda habitat offers the perfect sanctuary – and judging by her confident first explorations, Priya is already making herself right at home.

An endangered red panda named Priya (pictured) has made a charming and much-anticipated arrival at Highland Wildlife Park