Fota Wildlife Park's Red Panda Cubs Named Momo and Koshi
The winning names, submitted by Charlie Lynch from Cork and Nuria Costa from Limerick, were selected from over 1,000 entries.
Fota Wildlife Park has announced the charming names for its two endangered red panda cubs born in June: Momo and Koshi. The names, selected from over 1,000 public entries, reflect the species' Himalayan heritage and mark another conservation success story for the East Cork attraction.
The male cub has been named Momo, meaning "dumpling" in Nepali, whilst his sister Koshi takes her name from a river in Nepal. The winning suggestions came from Charlie Lynch of County Cork and Nuria Costa of County Limerick, both of whom received Conservation Annual Passes as their prize.
Born on 7th June to parents Suzi and Grga, the cubs represent a significant achievement for the European Endangered Species Programme. Red pandas face mounting pressures in the wild, with habitat loss and poaching contributing to declining numbers across their native range in the Himalayas and southern China.
At just over three months old, Momo and Koshi are beginning to venture beyond their nesting box under mother Suzi's careful supervision. The Park suggests early morning visits shortly after opening offer the best chance of spotting the young pandas as they explore their surroundings.
The timing couldn't be better for red panda enthusiasts, with International Red Panda Day falling this Saturday, 20th September. Fota Wildlife Park will celebrate with an educational trail running until 28th September, featuring QR codes that teach visitors about conservation threats facing the species. Participants can win family day tickets through the interactive experience.
The Park's Panoramic Wheel will complete its summer season on Sunday, 21st September, giving visitors one final weekend to enjoy the elevated views over the wildlife park and surrounding countryside.
