BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The newest furry friend at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is making his public debut this weekend. Dorji, a 10-month-old Red Panda, traveled from Utah to the Nutmeg State to win over hearts with his charismatic and lovable nature.
Dorji, pronounced "door-jay," was born at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. He lost his mother several months after birth but learned “to Panda” from his father, according to a release from the Beardsley Zoo, which said Dorji’s relocation to Connecticut is part of a conservation initiative endorsed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan.
At the Beardsley Zoo, Dorji joins 14-year-old Berry in the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat, the zoo said, noting that Dorji has a clean bill of health after spending time undergoing a standard 30-day quarantine to ensure he remained safe as he took in his new surroundings.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Dorji. We have really high expectations that he and Berry will get along,” Zoo Director Gregg Dancho said. “(Berry is) a bit older, and we expect that her maternal instincts will come through so that she can teach Dorji the ropes and really, ‘how to panda.’”
According to the zoo, Dorji has a reputation for loving late-night snacks and having a sweet, inquisitive nature. The zoo considers him a significant addition to the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat and said he will contribute to enhancing the species’ genetic diversity and future breeding programs.
The move to Connecticut aligns with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan’s goal to ensure “the vitality of endangered species like the red panda,” the release said.
The zoo noted that red pandas are small, arboreal animals that come from the Himalayas and southern China. They’re known for their fire-colored fur and gentle demeanor and face a variety of threats in the wild such as habitat loss and poaching, which have led to their status as an endangered species, according to the zoo.
In Connecticut, Dorji is set up to thrive in the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat that was designed to “mimic the high altitudes and bamboo thickets of his native terrain, complete with endangering enrichment activities,” the release said.
The zoo noted that the habitat’s environment not only serves Dorji’s needs but can educate the public about the crucial need to preserve such a unique species.
“The arrival of Dorji is just the beginning of what Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo and its patrons hope will be a new chapter in the story of Red Panda conservation. We welcome all to come and meet Dorji, and to learn more about contributing to the preservation of these enchanting creatures,” the release said.
The Beardsley Zoo is Connecticut’s only zoo and is 102 years old, according to the release, which said it features 350 animals representing mainly North and South American and Northern Asian species.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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