Chiba’s 23-year-old red panda to be recognized with a world record

Futa, a red panda at Chiba Zoological Park, is set to be recognized as the oldest living red panda in captivity by Guinness World Records next week.

A ceremony will take place on Tuesday, when Futa turns 23 years and 135 days old — roughly a third longer than the average lifespan for red pandas, which usually live between 12 and 17 years.

Red pandas are categorized as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, making Futa’s longevity particularly significant.

Tickets for the 30-minute ceremony, followed by a photo session, will be given out once the zoo opens on the day, with seats available for the first 150 visitors. Those without numbered tickets can also watch the event in areas without seats.

Futa’s world record will also be marked with 20,000 limited-edition cards, which will be distributed from Nov. 21. Merchandise commemorating the accolade will be put on sale at the zoo starting Nov. 24.

Red pandas, as opposed to giant pandas, are smaller and naturally found in mountainous forests, including parts of China and Myanmar.

The global record-keeping organization last awarded the same title in February 2020 to Taylor, a red panda from a zoo in Montana in the United States, who was 21 years and 265 days old. He died the following month.

In Japan, there are currently 224 captive red pandas, according to the latest data from the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums, with six of those being housed at Chiba Zoological Park.

Futa is also approaching another title — the oldest red panda in captivity ever.

The record is currently still held by Kusu from Itozu no Mori Zoological Park in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, who died at 24 years old in 2015, according to Guinness World Records.