The Santa Barbara Zoo is thrilled to welcome Ruby, a female red panda who arrived from Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY, as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). Ruby has a recommendation to breed with Raj, the Zoo’s male red panda.
She is just shy of a year old, so we may not see cubs from Raj and Ruby for a little while, but animal care staff will work on introductions over the next couple of months. These intentional pairings are critical to the sustainability of endangered species like red pandas.
Red pandas, native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, are known for their striking reddish-brown fur, bushy tails, and endearing, bear-like faces. Despite their name, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas; they are actually more akin to raccoons…