Meet Sundara! Louisville Zoo debuts its new red panda, an endangered species
Meet the newest member of the Louisville Zoo, a male red panda named Sundara.
The zoo revealed the new addition Tuesday morning in a post on its Facebook.
"We are thrilled to introduce you to our new red panda, Sundara, also known as 'Sunny D' by our zoo keeper staff!" the post said.
Red pandas are endangered, and the Louisville Zoo has not had one since the 1970s.
The zoo said red pandas are lovers of grapes and climbing and are most active at dawn and dusk. The zoo said to bear that in mind if you are visiting him in the afternoon and find him sleeping.
"This crepuscular mammal has nestled his way into our lives and hearts!" the zoo said.
The red panda, also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China.
It makes sense, then, given the cold climate conditions that the species is used to, that it will be living in the zoo's Glacier Run, an arctic-themed zone.
Sundara is now on display in the former snowy owl exhibit near Wallaroo Walkabout. It's been renovated for its new inhabitant.
On Monday, they posted on their Facebook a close-up photo of an animal paw asking if people could figure out what it was based on the sneak peek.