Press release from the City of Asheville Parks and Recreation:
The City of Asheville is excited to announce that the WNC Nature Center’s new red panda exhibit opens to the public at noon on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, and will include a ceremonial ribbon cutting and the introduction of our new resident pandas, Leafa and Phoenix.
The red pandas arrived at the Nature Center in November, passed the required quarantine period and have been slowly introduced to their new habitat. They are the first species introduced as part of the Nature Center’s new Prehistoric Appalachia project and are part of the Species Survival Program associated with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Red pandas are currently endangered, with only several thousand remaining in the wild.
Much of the funding for the red panda exhibit comes from the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, a nonprofit organization that has provided funds for the Nature Center for over 40 years. If you’re looking for a last minute Valentine’s Day gift, the Friends’ red panda merchandise is available at the Nature Center gift shop. For more information about the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, visit www.wildwnc.org/support.
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