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Howdy-do Liu!
Liu (Lee-you), a 6-year-old red panda from the Toledo Zoo, arrived in town last week and is settling in at the Oregon Zoo, exploring his outdoor area for the first time this morning.
“He’s very handsome,” said Dr. Carlos Sanchez, the zoo’s director of animal health. “His tail is so blond — surfer blond.”
Caregivers plan to introduce Liu to Enoki, a female red panda, who arrived last month. They hope the pair will hit it off and perhaps eventually add to the population of their endangered species.
“These two represent a species in trouble,” said Kelly Gomez, who oversees the zoo’s red panda area. “In the past 25 years, habitat loss, poaching and the illegal wildlife trade have wiped out nearly half the world’s red panda population. Hopefully, we can help inspire a new chapter in the conservation of this incredible species.”
Thank you Keeper Molly for the video of Liu in action!