Chattanooga Zoo Bids Farewell to Beloved Red Panda ‘Pilatus’ with Community Celebration
In The Know with Gino…
The Chattanooga Zoo is bidding farewell to one of its beloved residents, Pilatus, a young red panda who has captured the hearts of visitors since his arrival a year ago. Pilatus is set to journey to Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut, where he will join Ponya, a one-year-old female, in hopes of breeding and contributing to the species’ conservation efforts.
To honor Pilatus and give the community a chance to say goodbye, the zoo is hosting a special send-off event this Friday, June 27th, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the outdoor red panda enclosure. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a raffle for a rare, face-to-face encounter with Pilatus, including a feeding session where they can give him grapes. The celebration will also include displays of artwork created by Pilatus, commemorative stickers, special enrichment activities for the red pandas, and a limited edition of t-shirts featuring Pilatus.
Darde Long, the zoo’s president and CEO, expressed how meaningful Pilatus has been to the community. “Pilatus was the first red panda cub born here in eight years, making him very special to us all,” Long said. “While we will miss him dearly, we understand that this move is vital for his future and the conservation of his species.”
Pilatus’s transfer is part of the Red Panda Species Survival Plan (SSP), a collaborative effort among zoos to ensure a healthy and genetically diverse population of red pandas. His parents, Saffron and Avi, were paired through this program, and now Pilatus and Ponya are being matched to promote breeding and strengthen the species’ resilience.
At just over a year old, Pilatus has reached the age when red pandas typically leave their mothers and become sexually mature, which occurs around 18 months. In the wild, these solitary animals only interact during mating season, emphasizing the importance of managed breeding programs like the SSP.
Red pandas, native to the Himalayan Mountain forests of China, India, and Nepal, are classified as endangered, with only an estimated 10,000 left in the wild. Threats such as habitat destruction, mining, invasive species, and climate change put their survival at risk. The Chattanooga Zoo is committed to supporting conservation efforts, including partnering with organizations like the Red Panda Network to protect these vulnerable creatures.
Long emphasized the importance of connecting people with wildlife: “Our mission is to help visitors appreciate and care about species from around the world, especially those at risk of extinction. Seeing these animals firsthand makes a real difference.”
The community is invited to join the farewell celebration on June 27th, where all activities are FREE with zoo admission. Attendees can also purchase commemorative merchandise, and the raffle winner for the exclusive meet-and-feed experience will be announced at 3:45 p.m. The event will also honor Willa, another red panda who recently passed away at nearly 11 years old, surpassing the typical lifespan for her subspecies.
As Pilatus prepares for his new chapter in Connecticut, the Chattanooga Zoo continues to champion conservation and education efforts, inspiring visitors to care for wildlife both locally and globally.
To learn more go to CHATTZOO.ORG
SOURCE: Chattanooga Zoo
