Elizabeth Miri | The Monarch Ranger
Cinder, the baby red panda at Milwaukee County Zoo, experiencing snow for the very first time! Image Credit: @MilwaukeeCoZoo (video screenshot)
On November 15th, Milwaukee County got its first snowfall of the winter season. As everyone enjoyed this change of the season, one animal at the Milwaukee County Zoo was experiencing snow for the first time in her life.
Cinder, the five month old baby red panda cub, discovered snow for the first time. In the adorable video below, you can see her exploring the qualities of snow. She examines the snow closely by feeling the texture and even tasting it! She learns how to successfully climb the slippery branches
For those wondering what a red panda is, according to World Wildlife, they are a species of panda that are not much larger than a domesticated cat. Red pandas are native to the Eastern Himalayas located in China, Nepal, and Bhutan. They mainly snack on leaves and bamboo, but also occasionally eat fruit. Red Pandas are an endangered species, so it is really nice to see that Cinder and her mother are thriving in the Milwaukee County Zoo.
A few people were worried about whether Cinder and her mother would be able to handle the cold, but the Milwaukee Zoo said that “red pandas have a thick double-layer of fur. The two combine to create insulation to help them fight off cold temperatures and keep snow from reaching their skin.” So Cinder and her mother are safe to play in the snow all winter long!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND LEARN MORE
Learn more about the Milwaukee County Zoo’s animals here. Follow along as Cinder grows up by following @MilwaukeeCoZoo.
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