GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The John Ball Zoo has housed red pandas for years now, but now the zoo is officially a founding member of a national program to save the endangered animal.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has launched its 41st SAFE species program, this time targeting the red panda. The Saving Animals From Extinction species program brings institutions from across the world together to partner on breeding programs and share best practices.
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Jaime Racalla, the animal care supervisor at John Ball Zoo, called it an honor to be included in this latest program.
“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 in a statement.
John Ball Zoo welcomes two new red panda cubs
In addition to its breeding program, featuring Wyatt and Wasabi, John Ball Zoo also provides support to the Red Panda Network , which plants thousands of trees to create more red panda habitat and provide fuel-efficient wood stoves for nearby homes to limit deforestation.