The Potawatomi Zoo is inviting the community to help name their male red panda cub. The three name options, chosen by Potawatomi Zoo staff, are Clifford, Russet, and Pabu (a Tibetan word that means “son,” but also colloquially means puffball).
The cub, born June 13, 2026, to mom Raya and dad EJ, is the first to be born at the zoo since 2021. He has been hand-reared behind-the-scenes by zoo staff after it was determined that his mother wouldn’t be able to raise him.
To participate, people can donate at least $5 on the zoo’s website, potawatomizoo.org/animal/red-panda, through the end of September 17, 2026. The name that raises the most money will become the red panda cub’s permanent new name. The winning name will be announced on September 19, 2026, which is International Red Panda Day.
Proceeds from the naming contest will be donated to the Red Panda SAFE, a framework for conservation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. SAFE programs are a framework for conservation initiatives and include supporting partner organizations that strive to save animals and their habitats in the wild. To learn more about the Red Panda SAFE and its program plan, visit aza.org/safe-species#redpanda.
All online donors will also be entered into a drawing to win a red panda plush and two passes to the Potawatomi Zoo, chosen at random.
