Bridgeport, CT - Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is delighted to announce the arrival of Ponya, an 11-month-old female red panda from the Detroit Zoo. Ponya makes her public debut this week in the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat, a state-of-the-art exhibit complete with indoor and outdoor viewing areas, climbing structures, and temperature-controlled spaces throughout the seasons.
Ponya, born in 2024 at the Detroit Zoo, has been captivating visitors with her playful antics and inquisitive nature. Her move to Connecticut is part of a collaborative effort among AZA-accredited institutions to ensure the long-term survival of red pandas through carefully managed breeding programs.
Later this month, Dorji, our male red panda, will be transferred to another AZA-accredited institution as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). Dorji joined Beardsley Zoo in May 2024 from Utah's Hogle Zoo and has been a beloved resident, known for his sweet and curious demeanor.
In Dorji’s place, a young male red panda from another AZA accredited facility will soon join Ponya. This pairing has been strategically planned through the SSP program. The SSP program aims to maintain populations of species that are designated, threatened or endangered. Through habitat preservation, public education, and coordinated breeding efforts, the program aims to bolster red panda populations both in the wild and in human care.
For more information and to plan your visit click here www.beardsleyzoo.org.
About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating 102 years, features 350 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Red Pandas, Andean bears, Maned Wolves, Mexican Gray Wolves, and American Red Wolves. Other highlights include our Spider Monkey Habitat, and a new prairie dog exhibit! As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participant in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, the non-profit Zoo is committed to the preservation of endangered animals and wild habitats. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org.