Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS


New York, NY- August 15, 2011:
Biru, a 1-year-old red panda, rests in a tree in his new home at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Central Park Zoo. He recently joined his female companion, Amaya, in the Temperate Territory of the zoo.
Red pandas are endangered due to habitat loss caused by deforestation for timber, fuel, and agricultural use. It is estimated that fewer than 2,500 remain in the wild. The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx, Prospect Park, and Central Park Zoos all work with the Species Survival Plan for red pandas.

Contact:
Sophie Bass (212) 439-6527; sbass@wcs.org
Steve Fairchild (718) 220-5189; sfairchild@wcs.org


The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Central Park Zoo - Open every day of the year.  General Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for senior citizens, $7 for children 3 to 12, and free for children younger than 3. Total Experience Admission is $18.00 for adults, $15.00 for senior citizens, and $13.00 for children 3 to 12.  4-D theater admission is $4.00 for members and $7.00 for non-members. Zoo hours are 10am to 5:30 pm, April through October, and 10am – 4:30pm daily, November through April. Tickets are sold until one half-hour before closing. The zoo is located at Fifth Avenue and 64th Street. For further information, please call 212-439-6500 or visit www.centralparkzoo.com


The Wildlife Conservation Society
saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.