Zagreb Zoo

Date: 05.10.2011.

date: October 5th, 2011

On the 5th of October Zagreb Zoo celebrated Red Panda Day. The central part of the event was choosing the name of this year's Red panda cub. Using an applause-meter the godfather of the little panda, Ivan Šarić (who is a first time godfather), together with many visitors chose from among four names in the final selection: Baltazar, Fulir, Kai and Marunko.

The new male baby's name is KAI. Petar Karabatić suggested the name. „The name seemed interesting because I liked the play on words – Chinese kai and the word Kaj from Zagreb“, said Petar . The new name was chosen from among more than 600 suggestions. Thanks to his suggestion, Petar became the VIP adopter of the little Red panda Kai. The suggestions for the cub's new name were collected through Zagreb Zoo's Facebook page until Friday at 16:00, when the jury chose 4 names as finalists.

The panda's godfather Ivan Šarić is also pleased with the new name. “The name represents Zagreb very well, and leaves the impression of a Chinese name. I am very happy to have my first godchild. “, said the new godfather.

The small male came into this world on the 7th of July, and only recently came out of its den and began exploring his surroundings curiously. A Red panda cub cannot see for the first 18 days and only after 90 days they leave the security of the den. That is why we can only now, in fall, see the cub with his mom Amelie and proud father Jorrit.

On the international Red Panda Day, Zoo visitors could find out a lot of interesting information about this endangered species. Visitors could also participate in making decorations from bamboo and find out what red pandas eat. The children had a chance to participate in the detective game “Red panda ranger”. Zagreb Zoo organised Red panda adoptions as well through the animal adoption programme.

This is the second consecutive year that Red Panda Day is being celebrated at Zagreb Zoo. The initiative for this international day came from the Red panda conservation organization called „Red Panda Network“. This organisation works on projects for the survival of Red pandas in the wild through conservation of their habitat. Also, organisation acts through education of local population and their involvement in conservation projects and through education of wider public.

Photo Srdjan Vrancic/Cropix