Beardsley Zoo welcomes Ponya the red panda

Ponya the red panda at the Connecticut's Beardsley zoo in Bridgeport Connecticut — Ponya

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo (1875 Noble Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06610) is delighted to announce the arrival of Ponya, an 11-month-old female red panda from the Detroit Zoo. Ponya makes her public debut this week in the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat, a state-of-the-art exhibit complete with indoor and outdoor viewing areas, climbing structures, and temperature-controlled spaces throughout the seasons.

Ponya, born in 2024 at the Detroit Zoo, has been captivating visitors with her playful antics and inquisitive nature. Her move to Connecticut is part of a collaborative effort among AZA-accredited institutions to ensure the long-term survival of red pandas through carefully managed breeding programs.

Later this month, Dorji, our male red panda, will be transferred to another AZA-accredited institution as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). Dorji joined Beardsley Zoo in May 2024 from Utah’s Hogle Zoo and has been a beloved resident, known for his sweet and curious demeanor.

In Dorji’s place, a young male red panda from another AZA accredited facility will soon join Ponya. This pairing has been strategically planned through the SSP program. The SSP program aims to maintain populations of species that are designated, threatened or endangered. Through habitat preservation, public education, and coordinated breeding efforts, the program aims to bolster red panda populations both in the wild and in human care.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat to welcome Ponya and learn more about red panda conservation efforts. For those unable to visit, the zoo offers a live webcam feed www.beardsleyzoo.org/zoo-cams.html, available daily from 8:30AM to 6:00PM.

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Beardsley Zoo welcomes Ponya the red panda