The Rowdy Red Panda Read online

  Suddenly, Zoe saw a flash of red fur streak through the tree. “Oh no,” she whispered as she watched Ruby scampering higher and higher. What was the lively red panda going to do this time?

  Look out for:

  The Lonely Lion Cub

  The Puzzled Penguin

  The Playful Panda

  The Silky Seal Pup

  The Eager Elephant

  The Lucky Snow Leopard

  The Pesky Polar Bear

  The Cuddly Koala

  The Wild Wolf Pup

  The Happy Hippo

  The Sleepy Snowy Owl

  The Scruffy Sea Otter

  The Picky Puffin

  The Giggly Giraffe

  The Curious Kangaroo

  The Super Sloth

  The Little Llama

  The Messy Meerkat

  The Helpful Hedgehog

  With special thanks to Siobhan Curham

  For Sadie Hardin

  Zoe Parker grinned as she stepped outside her front door. A thick blanket of snow covered the ground and a few feathery flakes drifted through the air. It was as if the Rescue Zoo where she lived had turned into a snow globe overnight! Zoe’s grey mouse lemur, Meep, scampered ahead, leaving a trail of tiny paw prints in the snow.

  “Wait for me!” called Zoe, as Meep leapt over the garden gate. It was still early on Saturday morning, and the zoo hadn’t opened yet. The only footprints were from the keepers, on their way to feed the animals their breakfast.

  “What does snow taste like?” asked Meep, scooping up a pawful.

  Zoe was able to understand what he was saying because she had a special secret – she was able to talk to animals! But no-one knew her secret, not even her Great-Uncle Horace, who owned the Rescue Zoo, or her mum, Lucy, who was the zoo vet.

  “It tastes like cold,” Zoe giggled as she opened the gate and joined him outside.

  Meep licked the snow and shivered. “I think I prefer bananas, they’re not so freezing!” He scampered back over to Zoe. She picked him up and tucked him inside her coat. Mouse lemurs were from a very hot country called Madagascar. It wasn’t surprising that Meep didn’t like being cold.

  “Morning, Zoe!”

  Zoe turned to see Valeria walking towards her. Valeria was the keeper in charge of the Rainforest Dome. Zoe knew that was the one place in the zoo that wouldn’t be cold, no matter how much snow fell. The Rainforest Dome had to be kept extra hot for the tropical animals and plants that lived there.

  “Hi Valeria,” said Zoe. “Are you enjoying the snow?”

  “Yes, I love it,” replied Valeria with a grin. “We never get snow in Venezuela, where I come from. It’s so much fun. Are you looking forward to the competition tomorrow?”

  “I can’t wait!” Zoe said excitedly. The next day, the zoo was taking part in a competition called the Snowy Paws Award, meant to choose the animal attraction that did the best job of encouraging guests to visit it even in cold winter weather. The Rescue Zoo would be competing against petting zoos, farms that welcomed visitors, and even a bird park.

  To help their cause, the Rescue Zoo had planned special exhibits of all the wintry animals, as well as a contest to see which child could build the best animal out of snow. They’d also gotten some volunteers to come and help decorate the zoo to make it look extra pretty and festive in the snow! Zoe was doing lots to help get the zoo ready too, and they were finishing up all the preparations before the judge arrived the next morning. Zoe really hoped they would win!

  “Well, I’d love to stay and play in the snow but I’d better go and feed my animals breakfast,” said Valeria. “Have a lovely day, Zoe.”

  “Let’s go and see how the exhibits are getting on,” Zoe said to Meep. Hugging him close, she hurried along the path that led to the penguins’ enclosure. The huge iceberg in the middle of the lagoon looked even more magical now it was covered with real snow. The penguins were all waddling around on it. They looked really happy.

  “Good morning, Zoe,” called Will, the penguins’ keeper.

  “Morning, Will,” replied Zoe. “Are the penguins getting ready for the show tomorrow?”

  “Oh yes, they’re keeping everything tidy, and I’m planning on giving them an extra helping of krill for their breakfast in the morning so they’ll have lots of energy when they’re performing for the judge,” Will grinned.

  “Cool!” Krill were small fish that penguins loved to eat. Zoe knew this because she loved helping all the keepers in the zoo and learning as much about the animals as she could. When she was older, she wanted to be a zookeeper too.

  “Could you put up this poster for me?” asked Will, handing it to her as he started to clean out the indoor part of the penguin enclosure.

  “Sure.” Zoe took the poster and hung it on the enclosure wall. “There you go, Will,” she called. There were lots of fun facts about penguins on the poster. Zoe had helped Will make it the day before.

  “Great, thank you!” Will called back.

  “Tell me a fun penguin fact, Zoe,” chirped Meep from inside her coat.

  “Penguins are one of the only birds who can’t fly in the air,” replied Zoe.

  “Why can’t they fly in the air?”

  “Because they only need to fly in the sea.” Zoe giggled at Meep’s confused expression. “When they flap their wings in the water it helps them to swim really fast,” she explained. “They have special veins in their feet to stop them from getting cold, too.”

  “That’s what I need!” chattered Meep.

  Zoe giggled as she snuggled him in tighter. “Come on, let’s go and see the other winter animals.”

  After checking on the snow leopards, llamas, and polar bears, Zoe made her way to the café at the centre of the zoo. Sally, the café manager, was outside putting some hats, scarves and funny glasses on a table.

  “Hi Zoe,” she called. “Could you help me put out the props for the snow-animal contest?”

  “Of course!” Zoe hurried inside the café and picked up a handful of hats and scarves. She couldn’t wait to see the snow animals being built. The children would be using the day to explore the zoo and decide which snow animal to build before the judging the next day. Her twin cousins, Willow and Sam, were coming and they were so excited to participate. Zoe had a feeling they’d have a hard time agreeing on what animal to make – the twins argued about everything!

  Zoe was looking forward to seeing the twins and her Auntie Laura, who was her mother’s younger sister. She didn’t get to see them very often, as they lived a few hours away, but they happened to be in town in time for the contest and Zoe thought they’d really enjoy it. They were a few years younger than Zoe and were very sporty and competitive.

  “Thanks, Zoe,” said Sally as Zoe hurried out clutching the bundle of props. Then she looked at her watch. “We’re just in time. The gates will be opening any minute!”

  Zoe gasped. “Time to get to work!” She hurried through the zoo. It all looked so magical in the snow – and it would only look better once they were done decorating!

  There was already a line of people outside, waiting to come in. Zoe spotted her Auntie Laura and the twins, who waved at her.

  “There they are!” Zoe said to Meep, waving back.

  “Goo! Goo!” chattered Meep.

  Zoe saw that he was pointing his paw at the sky. A hot air balloon was drifting above them. Its stripes were every colour of the rainbow. “Goo!” Meep said again, bouncing up and down.

  “Great-Uncle Horace!” Zoe cried. Great-Uncle Horace had rescued Meep when he was a tiny baby and because he hadn’t been able to say his name properly, Meep called him Goo. Zoe and Meep weren’t the only ones pleased to see the balloon. All around the zoo the animals started bellowing an
d roaring and chattering and squawking with excitement. Great-Uncle Horace had rescued them all, so they loved him very much.

  “Do you think he’s brought another rescue animal with him?” Zoe whispered to Meep. “Oh, I hope so! That would just be the perfect addition to our plan for the Snowy Paws Award!”

  The zoo gates opened for the day and people hurried inside. Great-Uncle Horace leaned over the side of the balloon’s basket, waving at the crowd. He was wearing a stripy scarf and hat that both perfectly matched the balloon. Perched on his shoulder was a beautiful blue bird. It was his hyacinth macaw, Kiki, who travelled everywhere with him. Zoe wondered where he had been this time. Just then, she spotted a furry white nose poking over the top of the basket. Then a whole face appeared. The nose, cheeks and ears were white but the rest of the fur was as red as a fox.

  “What kind of animal is that, Zoe?” asked Meep.

  “I’m not sure.” Zoe knew most animals but this was one she hadn’t seen before. Then, in a flash of red fur, the animal leapt on to the edge of the basket. Everyone in the crowd gasped.

  “Oh no, it’s going to fall out!” exclaimed Zoe.

  Just in time, Great-Uncle Horace caught the creature and scooped it into his arms. The balloon touched down and he climbed out, still holding the bundle of red fur.

  “Good morning, everyone!” Great-Uncle Horace boomed. “Welcome to the Rescue Zoo. And an extra special welcome to our very latest addition – this little red panda!”

  Meep peeped out at the new arrival from inside Zoe’s coat. “I thought all pandas were black and white, like Chi Chi and Mei Mei,” he chattered.

  “So did I,” whispered Zoe, thinking of the twin panda cubs Great-Uncle Horace had rescued many months ago.

  Just then, Willow and Sam came running over.

  “Hi, Zoe,” they chorused, giving her a hug.

  “Hi Willow. Hi Sam. Do you want to come and see the red panda?”

  “Yes please,” said Sam.

  “She’s so cute,” sighed Willow.

  They all hurried over to Great-Uncle Horace.

  “Zoe, Willow, Sam! It’s so lovely to see you!” exclaimed Great-Uncle Horace. “What do you think of our new arrival? She seems very happy to be here.” The red panda wriggled and squeaked with excitement.

  “She’s lovely.” Zoe looked at the red panda. The patches around her eyes and nose were the same as Chi Chi and Mei Mei’s. But they were a brownish red and white instead of black and white. And the red panda’s body was a lot smaller than a panda bear’s, and a different shape. She was more like a cat than a bear, with a long fluffy tail. “Where’s she from?”

  “Well, originally, she’s all the way from the Himalayan mountains in Asia,” said Great-Uncle Horace.

  “Wow!” exclaimed Sam. “That’s really far away!”

  “But you haven’t been gone long,” Zoe said. “Certainly not long enough to go all the way to Asia!”

  “That’s right,” explained Great-Uncle Horace. “This little one was actually in a zoo nearby that’s closing down. She’s been living there so long that she wouldn’t be able to fend for herself in the wild, so she needs a new home. Luckily, she seems to like being around people!” He chuckled as the red panda waved her front paws and hooted at the crowd.

  “It’s like she’s saying hello to us,” Willow giggled.

  Zoe grinned. If only Willow knew that was exactly what the red panda was saying! Zoe couldn’t wait to be alone with her, so she could talk to the red panda properly.

  Zoe’s mum, Lucy, came walking over with Auntie Laura.

  “Hi, Zoe!” Auntie Laura gave her a big hug while Lucy greeted the twins.

  “Lucy, please could you give her a quick check-up?” Great-Uncle Horace asked, holding up the red panda.

  Lucy smiled. “Of course!” She peeked into the red panda’s eyes and ears and listened to her heart with a stethoscope. “She seems fine,” Lucy said. “But I’ll give her a more thorough check-up after she’s settled in.”

  Zoe was excited. “Are you taking her to her enclosure now?” she asked Great-Uncle Horace. “Can I come too?”

  “Of course,” he replied. “Just follow me and we’ll meet Stephanie at our red panda’s new home.” He waved at the crowd. “I’ll see you all later. Please enjoy your visit to the Rescue Zoo.”

  “Can we visit her later?” Sam asked.

  “Sure,” said Zoe. “Let’s just give her a little quiet time first, though. The animals can often be a little nervous when they arrive here.”

  “We can’t wait!” said Willow.

  Zoe, Meep and Great-Uncle Horace set off along the winding footpath that led through the zoo. The red panda wriggled about excitedly in Great-Uncle Horace’s arms, trying to see everything.

  “I think she likes the snow,” giggled Zoe, as the red panda waved her paws, trying to catch some falling flakes.

  “It must remind her of her home in the mountains,” said Great-Uncle Horace. “Red pandas also like to live high up in trees, so I’m going to put her in the enclosure next to the penguins.”

  Zoe smiled. The enclosure next to the penguins had lots of really tall trees. They would be perfect for the red panda to climb in.

  When they got to the enclosure, Stephanie, the panda bears’ zookeeper, was already inside holding a bundle of bamboo shoots. “Hello Horace, hello Zoe,” she called when she saw them. “What’s going on?”

  “Hello, Stephanie,” replied Zoe. “We’ve got a new type of panda for you.”

  “You do?” Stephanie ran over, her eyes widening as she caught sight of the red panda. “Oh my goodness,” she whispered. “I can’t believe it. I’ve never seen one of these before. Never!”

  “Really?” said Zoe.

  “Red pandas are very rare,” Great-Uncle Horace explained.

  “And they’re not actually related to the panda bear,” said Stephanie, her face glowing with excitement. “Although they do look quite similar. And they both love to eat bamboo.” She held out a shoot and the red panda began chewing away happily. “There you go,” Stephanie cooed. “Aren’t you a beauty?”

  “Could I hold her for a bit and show her the trees?” asked Zoe.

  “Of course.” Great-Uncle Horace handed her over. She was so soft and fluffy!

  While Great-Uncle Horace and Stephanie talked about getting some more food, Zoe took the red panda over to a cluster of trees. She carefully placed her on the ground.

  “Hello,” she whispered. “I’m Zoe, and this is Meep.” She unbuttoned her coat so that Meep could come out.

  The red panda looked at them both and squeaked excitedly.

  “Hello Ruby, that’s a lovely name.” Zoe smiled. She loved being able to understand what animals said.

  “It’s nearly as lovely as Meep,” said the little lemur.

  The red panda rolled around in the snow, squealing loudly.

  “What’s she doing?” asked Meep. “Won’t she get freezing?”

  “She says she loves the snow because it’s cold where she comes from,” explained Zoe.

  Ruby wrapped her long tail around her body and chattered excitedly.

  “She says her fluffy tail keeps her nice and warm,” laughed Zoe.

  “Hmm…” Meep looked at his own tail, which was a lot thinner and less fluffy. “I’m not sure my tail would keep me very warm.”

  “No, but I can.” Zoe picked Meep up and tucked him back inside her coat.

  Ruby scampered over to the trees and back again, all the time squeaking excitedly.

  “You’re in my Great-Uncle Horace’s Rescue Zoo,” explained Zoe. “He’s rescued animals from all over the world so you’re going to make lots of friends here.”

  Ruby scampered over to the enclosure fence and looked out. Then she came racing back and leapt on to Zoe’s lap, chattering away, looking worried.

  “Oh, I suppose you’ll be alone in your enclosure, yes,” Zoe said. “But you won’t be bored here, trust me! I’ll take you to see
the other animals, and you’ll see that you’ll have plenty of friends and fun to keep you busy!”

  Zoe took Ruby back over to Great-Uncle Horace and Stephanie.

  “It looks as if you’ve made a good friend,” chuckled Great-Uncle Horace when he saw Ruby snuggled up in Zoe’s arms.

  “I have. Her name’s Ruby,” replied Zoe.

  “What a nice name,” said Stephanie.

  “Yes, Zoe always seems to pick just the right names for our animals,” said Great-Uncle Horace.

  Zoe smiled. If only he knew. She didn’t often choose the names at all! The animals usually just told her what they were called when they arrived.

  “Please can I show Ruby some of the zoo?” she asked. “I think she’d like to make some friends here to make her feel more at home.”

  “I don’t see why not,” replied Great-Uncle Horace. “But keep a tight hold on her. She does like to wriggle!”

  “I will.”

  Zoe made her way over to the enclosure gate and opened it with the silver pawprint pendant around her neck. The pendant had been a gift from Great-Uncle Horace and it opened all of the enclosures in the zoo.

  Ruby squeaked so loudly that she made Zoe and Meep jump.

  “I know you’re excited to see the other animals but you don’t need to be so loud about it,” Zoe giggled.

  “Over there are the penguins,” Zoe said, pointing to the lagoon as they made their way outside.

  Ruby’s ears pricked up and her whiskers twitched. Zoe tried to tighten her grip but before she could stop her, Ruby had wriggled out of her arms. “No! Come back!” Zoe cried. But it was too late. The little red panda had slipped through a gap in the fence and into the lagoon.

  “Uh-oh!” chattered Meep, as Ruby charged into a group of penguins, sending one of them sailing across the ice.

  “Wait for me!” Zoe called, running after Ruby. But the little red panda was too fast. By the time Zoe had opened the enclosure gate with her necklace and reached the lagoon Ruby had slipped back out again and raced off along the snowy footpath. “Oh no!” Zoe gasped as Ruby disappeared from view. She looked this way and that, trying to catch a glimpse of red fur.