CHICAGO — The new red panda cubs that Lincoln Park Zoo will soon debut to the public have names inspired by some other, more famous Cubs.
The male, named Clark, and the female, Addison, have cleared their latest veterinary check-up Friday and will debut Thursday, Oct. 22, the zoo announced.
Nearly four months old, the baby red pandas have spent their time growing and developing in a nest box behind the scenes. As they have grown more curious and able, the time has come for them to move into the larger, much more visible habitat.
"The first four months of red panda cubs' lives are critical for survival," said Mark Kamhout, currator of mammals for the zoo. "Leafa [the mother] was very protective of her cubs, but curiosity could not keep them in their den and the cubs have spent the last few weeks exploring their behind-the-scenes area from climbing to exploring new sights and smells."
The cubs were born June 26.
Red pandas hail from the Himalayan mountain range and are considered a vulnerable species due to deforestation and poaching, the zoo said.
The two cubs will join Leafa and father Phoenix on display in the zoo's Kovler Lion House.
Though they will be on and off exhibit intermittently as they continue to grow, the zoo has said the cubs will usually be on exhibit beginning at 10 a.m. most days.
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