Paprika the red panda moves in to new home at Greater Vancouver Zoo
![Paprika the red panda This photo from the Greater Vancouver Zoo shows Paprika, a red panda. (Image credit: Instagram/greatervancouverzoo)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/2/18/paprika-the-red-panda-1-6773969-1708282268447.png)
A red panda named Paprika was introduced to her would-be mate at the Greater Vancouver Zoo Saturday as part of an effort to help increase the population of the endangered species.
The six-year-old female has been paired up with 10-year-old male, Arun – who was the father of the first red panda cubs ever born in B.C. last year.
The hope, which is perhaps appropriate for Family Day weekend, is that the two will hit it off and produce more cubs, according to social media posts from the zoo which notes this recent pairing is part of the species survival plan.
The Red Panda Network, a conservation group, says there are less than 10,000 of the animals left and that the population could be as small as 2,500. They are found in southwestern China and the eastern Himalayas and although they are not related to the giant pandas, they do have a diet that is almost exclusively bamboo and spend most of their time in trees.
Habitat loss, including deforestation, is one of the main reasons they are endangered, according to the conservation group. Disease, poaching and a lack of food are others.
Visitors to the zoo over the long weekend will also be able to participate in a fundraiser benefiting the Red Panda Network. In a twist on Valentine ’s Day, people are being invited to pay $5 to name a cockroach after an ex-partner or anyone else who “bugs” them. Those who donate will be entered into a contest to have a “behind the scenes” meet and greet with Arun and Paprika.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6964584.1721069904!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING Tentative deal to end LCBO strike on hold as province accuses union of introducing new demands
The union representing LCBO workers says that the province is refusing to sign a return-to-work protocol for its members and that a strike that has shuttered retail locations across Ontario will continue for the time being.
opinion Trump's assassination attempt not a political winner
Danger and fear are so pervasive throughout the national political ethos it is now the norm, writes Washington political columnist Eric Ham.
Saskatchewan Party nominee Meghan Mayer withdraws, apologizes for putting child in blackface
A former Saskatchewan Party nominee has apologized for putting a student in blackface.
Canadian flights, hospitals, border disrupted during global technology outage
A global technology outage grounded flights, disrupted hospitals and backed up border crossings in Canada on Friday, as issues persisted hours after problems with Microsoft services were said to be getting fixed.
LIVE UPDATES Here's the latest on Canadian impacts of the global IT outage
The latest developments on the Canadian impacts of the global technology outage that is causing massive disruptions to companies and services around the world.
'Do not use homemade sunscreen,' Health Canada warns
Health Canada warned the public in an official statement Friday against homemade sunscreen after viral posts showed social media influencers creating recipes for SPF.
Ontario woman says she was sold 'crumbling' house despite home inspection
As an Ontario woman put away her China dishes after Christmas Dinner in 2018, she noticed her cabinet doors refused to shut.
Trudeau taps MacKinnon to be new labour minister, ahead of cabinet meeting
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has named Steven MacKinnon as Canada's new minister of labour and seniors, filling a fresh vacancy on his front bench, left by outgoing minister Seamus O'Regan.
How the CrowdStrike global IT outage affected Canadians
A global technology outage linked to a faulty software update has had a ripple effect on Canadians.