Overview
- Qi, a 7-year-old male from Prospect Park Zoo, arrived under a breeding recommendation to pair with Nisha, who is 8.
- After completing quarantine on Friday, Qi moved into his permanent habitat and is now viewable on an intermittent schedule.
- The red pandas met for the first time on Tuesday, and keepers report compatible behavior and an early “love connection.”
- With breeding season running January through March, the zoo hopes the pairing could yield cubs later this year, though outcomes remain uncertain.
- Red pandas are endangered, with about 87 in North American zoos, and visitors may spot the typically nocturnal pair active on outdoor perches.