Love is in the air at Beardsley Zoo… sort of.
Pilatus, also known as “Pilot,” a one-year-old red panda transferred from the Chattanooga Zoo in late June, has officially settled into his new home and met his potential leading lady, Ponya, who was transferred from the Detroit Zoo in May.
The two are part of the Species Survival Plan, an international matchmaking effort for endangered animals. Red pandas are classified as endangered, with fewer than 10,000 left in the wild due to habitat loss, poaching, and climate change.
At first, the two were spotted peeking at each other from opposite sides of the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat reminiscent of middle schoolers at a dance. Once the introductions were made, zookeepers say it went surprisingly well.
“We introduced them a couple of times and both times went really well,” said CEO Jim Wharton.
“Over time they’ve gotten much more comfortable with each other. Pilot likes to get up, move around and explore the habitat, and Ponya likes to relax and snack. It’s kind of the perfect odd couple,” Wharton said.
The budding pair has even been caught napping together, which is essentially second base in panda dating terms. Their personalities seem to balance out, Wharton noted.
Ponya is shy, Pilot is adventurous, and together they’ve already divided the habitat like an old married couple.
But the golden question remains: Have they officially paired?
Wharton kept his answer short and sweet: “They are still in the getting-to-know-you phase.” He is confident that their genetics are a good match, but it will ultimately be up to them to decide if they are a good fit for each other.
Translation: No baby pandas yet, but the vibes are good.
For now the Beardsley Zoo is just happy to watch this romance unfold.
For those unable to visit the panda in person, the zoo offers a live webcam feed, available daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
From FCN partner Easton Courier.
