Cape May County Zoo Welcomes New Red Panda

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ — Cape May County Park and Zoo has welcomed a new red panda, Dr. Stephen Wallace, also known as Wally, and marked his first birthday at the zoo on Tuesday.

Wally arrived in May from Zoo Knoxville. He was born June 3 in a litter of two males, according to the county.

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Visitors can see Wally daily in the rear panda yard, though the zoo said he can choose to go inside his building at any time. Ember, the zoo’s other red panda, remains in the front panda yard. The county said the next step, based on recommendations from the Red Panda Species Survival Plan program, is to introduce the two animals in the near future.

Aurora, the zoo’s former red panda resident, has moved to another zoo, also based on a recommendation from the Red Panda Species Survival Plan.

The county said Wally was named after a paleontologist who discovered red panda fossils in East Tennessee at the Gray Fossil Site. Those fossils were ancestors of red pandas in Asia.

Keepers describe Wally as curious and adventurous. The county said he likes exploring new furniture and enrichment items and enjoys interacting with his new keepers, especially when snacks are involved.

“The Cape May County Zoo was just named one of the best free attractions in the Country according to USA Today, and the commitment to continuing to improve and grow is one of the reasons why,” said Cape May County Commissioner Director Leonard C. Desiderio. “The Zoo is one of the premier anchors for tourism in our County bringing in 750,000 people last year.”

Red pandas are endemic to the eastern Himalayan mountains in Asia, according to the county. They live in temperate forests and rely heavily on bamboo in their diet. The county said their red coats earned them the nickname “firefox,” and that red pandas were recorded and named 50 years before giant pandas.

“We are excited to announce this new addition and celebrate Wally’s birthday with the public,” said Cape May County Commissioner Vice-Director Andrew Bulakowski, who is also the liaison to the Cape May County Park and Zoo. “I can’t thank the team enough at the Park and Zoo for their tireless dedication and enthusiasm to provide the best experience possible for our residents and visitors.”

The Cape May County Parks and Zoo are open daily. The parks are open from 7 a.m. to dusk, and the zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., according to the county. More information is available at CMCZoo.com.