Symbio welcomes new friends

John Radnidge and Symbi the Koala prepare to welcome a pair of endangered red pandas to Symbio Wildlife Park at Helensburgh.

SYMBI the Koala is about to welcome some special friends from across the globe to his home in Helensburgh.

Staff at Symbio Wildlife Park are busy preparing for the arrival of a pair of China's famous red pandas.

First discovered in 1821, Red Pandas are an endangered species and the new exhibit is a major step forward for Symbio, according to the park's managing director

John Radnidge.

"We're growing and expanding our business and branching out into the more exotic and endangered species," Mr Radnidge said.

"With the red panda exhibit, we start to become part of a global breeding program."

Symbio is already home to an impressive mix of exotic animals, including meerkats, American alligators and red-tailed boa constrictors from Mexico and South America.

The park's acquisition of the red pandas was made possible thanks a new business partnership with the Illawarra Credit Union.

The two pandas are expected to arrive before the start of spring and construction of their enclosure is already underway.

Mr Radnidge said the greatest challenge would be finding an adequate supply of bamboo leaves to satisfy the appetite of the new residents.

"Each red panda will eat up to 200,000 bamboo leaves each day," he said.

The Helensburgh wildlife park will launch a community appeal to identify and source future food supplies.

Despite the arrival of more exotic specious, Mr Radnidge said Symbio was still committed to protecting Australia's native animals.

The park has just received approval to construct a Tasmanian devil exhibit.

Mr Radnidge said the Tasmanian devil was on the brink of extinction, but the construction of the new exhibit would help Symbio contribute to efforts to ensure the species' survival.

"Anyone can display animals, but it's protecting and restoring their future that is critical," he said.