The only thing better than spotting two dangerously adorable red pandas at the River Safari is seeing another lovable red panda in their midst. Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) proudly announced today that Keta — a two-year-old female red panda from Melbourne Zoo — has acclimatized to its new environment and has now made the Giant Panda Forest biodome its home.
The cute critter actually arrived in Singapore back in January, but it took eight long months for River Safari keepers to patiently earn Keta’s trust. Today, WRS is happy to report that the red panda has become completely comfortable with her caretakers, and is familiarising herself to the biodome.
But the main reason why Keta is the newest addition to the exhibit is that she’s part of an international breeding programme for the endangered red panda species. The two male senior residents of the River Safari — Karma and Puskar — will now have to vie for her attention as playmates.
“We have a red-hot female in the house,” said River Safari Assistant Curator Halim Ali.
“As with introducing any new animals, it is not uncommon to see small fights at the beginning. We need to have plenty of patience to let the couple get used to each other’s scent and presence over time. Keta is more receptive of her future mate now.”
Five-year-old Karma has been identified to be Keta’s mate, and WRS hopes that little red pandas will be welcomed in the future.
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