Toronto Zoo Names Red Panda Cub After Receiving More Than 6,500 Votes

Mike Davey/Press Release

The Toronto Zoo community has spoken: the red panda cub, nicknamed “Biggie,” will officially be named Poppy.

This comes after the Toronto Zoo received over 6,500 votes to help name their newest furry friend. 

Poppy was one of five floral-themed names to choose from in honor of her mother, Sakura, which means “cherry blossom” in Japanese. 

For zoo-goers hoping to catch a glimpse of Poppy, they might have to wait a little longer. 

In a statement, the Toronto Zoo said “Poppy will start exploring smaller areas of her outdoor habitat over the coming weeks, though please note that many of these areas are not visible to the public. She’ll have the choice and control to spend time indoors or outdoors as she becomes more comfortable in her new surroundings.”

Red Pandas were classified as endangered in April of 2015 by the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN). Experts have estimated that there are roughly 2,500 to 10,000 red pandas left in the world. They are elusive and challenging to study in their natural habitat. However, experts agree that the population of the red panda has declined by as much as 50% over the last 20 years.