GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — John Ball Zoo (JBZ) has become a founding member of a nationwide program with a mission to save red pandas in the wild.
"Red pandas really need help," said JBZ Animal Care Supervisor Jaime Racalla. "Right now, their habitat is becoming fragmented. There's little pockets of red pandas."
Racalla will serve on the steering committee for the program.
She said the fragmented habitat is the main thing this program hopes to solve. JBZ has been planting a red panda home and trying to connect their habitats with native forests.
However, she said there's only so much they can do as just one zoo halfway across the world from the habitat.
"By combining everyone together, it's going to have that larger impact," Racalla said.
The program is through the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). AZA runs the Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) species program. This new program for red pandas is the 41st SAFE species program to be launched.
"John Ball Zoo has supported the conservation of red pandas for years, and participating in the SAFE species program will allow us to have even more of a direct impact,” Racalla said. “It is an honor to work with other knowledgeable institutions to preserve this amazing species.”
The zoo is also excited to welcome people back for the 2024 season, especially as they've welcomed some new additions to their own red panda family.
"We know everyone was itching to be able to see our cubs Nema and Dalawa last season, and they were a bit slow to come outside," Racalla said.
She said coming up on March 22 when the zoo plans to open back up, visitors can expect to see the cubs out in the habitat.
"They've been really fun to watch," she said. "There's a lot of tackling and playing and lots of sleeping of course too. But they're, they're just a joy to watch."
For more information on animal conservation efforts, you can visit jbzoo.org.
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