Chattanooga Zoo Welcomes New Red Panda and Announces Name of Baby Black Crested Mangabe
Photos Courtesy of Chattanooga Zoo
In The Know with Gino…
The Chattanooga Zoo is buzzing with excitement as it introduces two new members to its animal family. Visitors now have the opportunity to meet Willow, a beautiful new red panda, and Sully, the adorable baby black crested mangabey.
First, everyone is invited to say hello to Willow, the zoo’s newest red panda. Transferred from Houston Zoo about two weeks ago, the 10-year-old Chinese red panda has quickly become a curious explorer of her new environment. Visitors can find her in the Himalayan Passage, where she’s been sniffing around and adjusting to her surroundings.
Willow adds to the zoo’s already vibrant red panda family, which includes Saffron, a Himalayan red panda. Interestingly, there are two different types of red pandas—Himalayan and Chinese—and visitors can now see both species when they visit. Researchers are still studying whether these two types are subspecies of the same animal or entirely separate species.
Willow’s appearance features the characteristic deeper red fur, darker facial markings, and more distinctive black rings around her fluffy tail, which are typical of Chinese red pandas.
Meanwhile, Saffron, with her lighter features and mostly white face, exemplifies the Himalayan variety. Visitors are encouraged to test their red panda knowledge and try to tell them apart during their visit.
In addition to the red pandas, the zoo also celebrated a recent milestone—naming their newest baby black crested mangabey. After a community vote, the adorable infant has been named Sullivan, affectionately called Sully. Sully now joins the mangabey troop in the Gombe Forest section of the zoo, where visitors can stop by and meet the lively new addition.
The Chattanooga Zoo continues to delight animal lovers with its growing family of fascinating creatures. Whether you’re interested in spotting the unique differences between red panda species or meeting Sully in the Gombe Forest, there’s always something new to discover.
SOURCE: Chattanooga Zoo
