'Tons of personality.' Beardsley Zoo gives News 12 up-close look at rare red panda cub named Pabu
Pabu the red panda cub was born June 24 to parents Ponya and Pilot and marks the first birth ever of the endangered species at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo.
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Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo's newest addition hasn't made his public debut yet, but the social media darling is more than ready for his close-up.
On Monday, News 12 got the chance to meet Pabu, the first red panda cub ever born at the Bridgeport zoo, and saw firsthand why he's sure to become a fan favorite. Pabu's name, which means fluffball in Tibetan, was chosen after a public vote on the zoo's website.
At almost 4 months old and about six pounds, the cub is keeping his caretakers, including vet technician Jenny Gordon, on their toes.
"He's like a toddler," Gordon said laughing, as Pabu crawled into her arms and started chewing her hand. "He's trying all kinds of new things. You can see he's chewing on everything."
Cute doesn't even begin to cover it, but behind that fuzzy face is a cub making history and helping his endangered species live on.
"This is a huge milestone for us," explained Jim Wharton, CEO of the zoo. "We've had panda pairings in the past, and they just haven't worked out. So, having Pabu here feels like a miracle. We're really excited."
Pabu was born June 24 to parents Ponya and Pilot. The pair was matched through the nationwide Species Survival Plan designed to help protect endangered animals. Wharton estimates there may be as few as 2,500 red pandas left in the wild. Native to the Himalayan mountains, the species can be difficult to study in its natural habitat.
"Every one of these births is incredibly important," Wharton stressed.
That's why staff stepped in a few weeks after Pabu's birth. Gordon said first-time red panda mothers can sometimes struggle to care for their cubs, so they've been hand-raising him ever since.
"Four of us versus one mom, one red panda mom," Gordon said with a chuckle.
So far, the extra attention seems to be paying off. Pabu is thriving. He's in the process of being weaned off formula and starting to eat very small quantities of bamboo.
"I think that red pandas, one of the best things about them is they're this incredible sort of ambassador for the biodiversity of this planet," Wharton explained. "They are weird in so many ways. They look a little like a cat and a little like a dog, but they're not related to either. Probably the closest thing is raccoons and weasels, but not even closely related to them. They are a carnivore, but they eat almost exclusively bamboo."
"They are built for every cold weather. The bottoms of their feet are completely covered with fur along with the tops, so that helps them stay warm," added Gordon.
In fact, Pabu's current living space is kept at 65 degrees.
He's got another month or so there before he's reunited with his parents at the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat and visitors can see him in person. Once Pabu makes his public debut, zoo officials expect his popularity to only rise.
"He just has a ton of personality. He's super's cute, and I think people will just be really drawn to him," Wharton said.
"He's just awesome," Gordon added, giving him a kiss.
The zoo expects to launch a panda-cam by the end of the week so the public can check in on Pabu daily.
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