Red panda cubs now exploring outdoor exhibit
The red panda-monium surrounding our two cubs Henny and Joy is making its way outside!
Our not-so-little cubs have officially graduated from their space in our Education lobby to an outdoor exhibit! They will now have daily access to our ring-tailed lemur habitat in the Vanishing Animals South section of the Buffalo Zoo, right across from our bison yard, through the winter and spring.
Joy and Henny have continued to grow side by side since being introduced in September, helping each other develop socially and learn how to be red pandas. They can often be seen napping and playing next to one another. Crucially, the pair have become much more adept at climbing, which is understandably a skill needed for red pandas to thrive outdoors.
Joy, born on June 15 to mom Himalaya (2) and dad Mogwai (4) right here in Buffalo, has grown quite a bit in her five months of life! She’s become much more confident and adventurous, and physically, she now weighs more than Himalaya!
Henny was born on June 11 at the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan. A special partnership that united the resources of both the Buffalo Zoo and Binder Park Zoo brought her here alongside Joy in September, and she’s been a little ball of playfulness ever since.
To tell the two apart, note that Henny is the smaller cub and has more red in her face, while Joy is larger and more of a white, fluffy face.
Be sure to look for the cubs during your next Buffalo Zoo visit as they explore their new outdoor space! Please note that the cubs will have access to both the outdoor habitat and the inside behind the scenes space, so viewing is not guaranteed.
Red pandas are endangered, with fewer than 10,000 left in the wild due to deforestation and habitat loss. They are native to Asia, specifically the forests of Nepal, Bhutan and southern China. While they possess the digestive system of a carnivore, they are practically vegetarians, eating mostly bamboo leaves, and similar greenery.
By visiting and supporting the Buffalo Zoo, you’re not just meeting two remarkable cubs — you’re joining a network of conservationists, and animal lovers across the globe who are fighting for their survival!
You can support Henny and Joy with a donation to the Buffalo Zoo this holiday season! For a limited time, all gifts are being matched dollar-for-dollar by the Yurtchuk Foundation.
You can make a donation here.
