Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo has a name for its first red panda cub: Pabu, the Tibetan word for “fluffball.” The zoo announced the winner of its public naming vote on Wednesday, Sept. 30, after visitors chose among three names proposed by animal-care staff.
A very fluffy landslide
Pabu topped Ravi and Tashi in the vote, giving the cub a name that fits his signature coat. He was born June 24 to first-time parents Ponya and Pilot, and his arrival made him the first red panda born at Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The zoo shared the result in its Sept. 30 announcement.
The name has a small language lesson tucked inside it: Pabu means “fluffball” in Tibetan. The zoo’s earlier naming-vote notice said Ravi means “sun” in Nepali and Tashi means “fortunate” or “lucky” in Tibetan. Pabu won after the public picked from those three staff-selected options.
His first months have already brought a burst of attention from animal fans, and the zoo says he will continue growing with behind-the-scenes care before joining Ponya and Pilot in the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat. NBC Connecticut also reported on the naming announcement and the cub’s next steps.
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Sources
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo: Pabu naming announcement; Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo: naming-vote notice; NBC Connecticut: Meet Pabu.