Toronto Zoo's Red Panda Cub Needs a Name

Toronto Zoo’s Red Panda Cub Needs a Name

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: September 20, 2020 2:05 pm

The red panda cub being fed at Toronto Zoo

Photo Credit: Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is ready to name their red panda cub born in the late afternoon of Tuesday July 14th 2020. Since her birth the cub has been known as #babyred.

To help decide the name of the cub staff at Toronto Zoo are inviting guests to vote in a poll from Saturday September 19th to Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 11:59 pm. You can cast your vote on the Toronto Zoo website – Toronto Zoo.

Toronto Zoo welcomed their first red panda cub since 1996 on Tuesday July 14th. Two year old female Ila and three year old male Suva were brought together at Toronto Zoo as part of a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Red Panda Species Survival Plan (SSP).

The name options for the red panda cub

Photo Credit: Toronto Zoo

Ila moved to Toronto from Woodland Park Zoo while Suva came from Assiniboine Park Zoo.

The pair initially welcomed two cubs but unfortunately one passed away eight days after being born. Staff begun to suspect that Ila was not producing enough milk to feed her young. To ensure the survival of the second cub staff begun supplemental feeds. They kept the cub with Ila to ensure that their bond was maintained.

The red panda cub soon after birth

Photo Credit: Toronto Zoo

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While the next few months are critical to the survival of the cub staff are hopeful based on her progression that she will survive.

Red pandas are classed as endangered in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Toronto Zoo support the survival of this species by participating in the red panda SSP and supporting the field conservation efforts for the species through the Red Panda Network.