Binghamton Zoo has New Red Panda

The Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park officially opens for their 140th season the weekend of April 18 and 19th.  As the zoo prepares for opening for a new season, thy have a new resident they would like you to meet.

Welcome Jiang, a 12 year old red panda, sent to the Binghamton Zoo by recommendations from the red panda SSP (Species Survival Plan). Jiang joins us from the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI. He is owned by Red River Zoo in ND. Jiang's name means “ginger” in Chinese.

The pairing of Mei-Li and Jiang is considered very genetically valuable, especially since Jiang has not produced any offspring in his lifetime. The breeding season for red pandas is January through March, and everyone's hoping this pair is successful.

Red pandas, like many other species, face many threats to their survival. Poaching and habitat loss are just a few problems leading to their loss of numbers. Captive breeding and the Species Survival Plan are vital to the survival of the species, and help educate the public about the issues above.

I've already got a spring time visit to the Binghamton Zoo in my plans.  Let's keep this Binghamton tradition flourishing.