GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In October, John Ball Zoo asked for the public's help in naming the two red panda cubs that were born at the zoo in July. Now, they're announcing the winners!
The male cub will be named Dawa, which means "moon," and the female cub will be named Nima, which means "sun."
These names were suggested by people in West Michigan's Bhutanese and Nepali refugee community—which is the native region of red pandas.
“We are thrilled to introduce Dawa and Nima and are so excited to watch them grow and thrive at John Ball Zoo,” said Rhiannon Mulligan, education manager at John Ball Zoo. “We are also proud that the names of these cubs reflect the places and cultures where red pandas come from, which helps spread awareness about the wildlife and wild places we can continue preserving around the world.”
Dawa and Nima are the second litter from the zoo's resident red pandas, Wyatt and Wasabi. The two cubs recently moved into the outdoor habitat.
Zoo officials say the conservation of red pandas is crucial, as their population has declined by 50% over the past 20 years.
John Ball Zoo is now closed for the season. They will reopen on March 22, 2024.
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