BUFFALO, N.Y. — A new furry friend will be joining the Buffalo Zoo family.
An 11-month-old female red panda named Himalaya will be coming to Buffalo from the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina.
Himalaya's addition to Buffalo is apart of the Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) for red pandas which is a program that ensures the genetic health of threatened and endangered species in zoos across North America.
“We are thrilled to welcome our newest resident - Himalaya. She is a beautiful red panda with a charming and playful spirit,” said Lisa Smith, President and CEO at the Buffalo Zoo. “She is an adorable ambassador for her species, which is in danger of extinction. Himalaya will help us raise awareness about the vital importance of conservation and our role in saving wildlife."
The Buffalo Zoo already has a male red panda named Mogwai, and they hope that by adding a female it will create a breeding pair. Mogwai who is 3-years-old has only been in Buffalo for a year now after traveling from the Pueblo Zoo in 2023.
According to a press release from the Buffalo Zoo "Red pandas are native to the Eastern Himalayas and are classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Habitat loss and poaching are the biggest threats to these charismatic creatures."
To learn more visit buffalozoo.org/animal/red-panda
Related Video: