“There’s the red panda!” Children at Mill Mountain Zoo ran to the red panda exhibit when word spread that the baby panda was out of his den box. “They really are the stars of the zoo” as one guest put it. Mill Mountain Zoo’s baby red panda has gotten the attention of zoo guests and now he has partnered with the media.
With the help of Jessica Embrey, the panda’s keeper, WDBJ7 was invited inside the panda’s cage and house to install two web cams. Our panda cams will be constantly streaming to WDBJ7.com so viewers everywhere can watch the panda grow.
Jessica brought the baby panda out of his den box so our team could install the cameras. Guests watched with excitement as he climbed her arm and she answered questions about the pandas. Even small children watched in awe because they had all hoped to catch a glimpse of the baby panda on their trip to the zoo. It was exciting to tell these kids that they can follow the baby panda at WDBJ7.com.
We asked Jessica what viewers can expect to see on the panda cam. She anticipates that within the next few weeks the baby will be walking out of his den box on his own. In the meantime you can watch and see as his mother carries him back and forth in her mouth. Jessica also told us that pandas have a false thumb so watching them eat will be entertaining for viewers.
Sarah Dowdy, zoo operations, hopes that the panda cam will help educate people about the pandas as they enjoy watching the baby grow. “The zoo is an entertaining place but our first priority is to maintain and protect these endangered species while educating people about the animals.”
