Charles Paddock Zoo welcomes new red panda, baby mongoose lemur

Two new arrivals join zoo family

– The City of Atascadero and the Charles Paddock Zoo announced new animal highlights for summer and the 4th of July holiday.

A new young red panda, Kesari, has arrived from the Sacramento Zoo. Additionally, the zoo welcomed a baby mongoose lemur, announcing, “It’s a Boy!” and naming the baby Ravi.

Kesari, a Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens), came from the Sacramento Zoo through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. Kesari celebrated her first birthday on June 15. In the wild, red pandas live 8-10 years, but in captivity, they can live for 15 years or more. There are two subspecies of red pandas: the Himalayan red panda, A. fulgens, and the Chinese red panda, A. styani. Red pandas were discovered about 50 years before the black and white giant pandas. In the wild, they inhabit colder, high-elevation climates and do not adapt well to summer heat. At this time of year, they spend most of their day in their air-conditioned den, so the best time to see them is in the morning when it is still cool. Red pandas are classified as endangered due to deforestation, urbanization, and poaching.

With approximately 2,500 red pandas remaining in the wild, Kesari will play an important role in conservation efforts at the zoo. Her breeding companion will be Oolong, the zoo’s male red panda. They hope Kesari and Oolong will have many cubs in the future. To ensure the well-being of both, they might be on exhibit separately until they can be on exhibit together. However, Tabie, the female red panda, will also have access to the exhibit.

The baby mongoose lemur was born on April 7 and had his first visit to the vet this week. The zoo’s veterinarian, Dr. Robinson, gave him a physical exam and confirmed he is a boy. Named Ravi by his keeper, he is now over 10 weeks old. Ravi has entered the toddler phase, spending less time clinging to his mother and more time practicing running and leaping. He is learning about solid food and enjoys corn, grapes, and bananas. His parents are patient as Ravi climbs all over them and tries to sample everything they eat.

The Charles Paddock Zoo offers over 200 animal species to enjoy this summer. The zoo is the only one in San Luis Obispo County accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is open daily and located at Atascadero Lake Park on Hwy 41/Morro Road, one mile west of Hwy 101. For information, visit www.charlespaddockzoo.org or call the zoo at (805) 461-5080.