nigalya images - Joel Sartore

Picture of an endangered, male Western red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) named Nigalya at the Chattanooga Zoo.

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ANI058-00064

An endangered, male Western red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) named Nigalya at the Chattanooga Zoo.

Picture of an endangered western red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) named Nigalya at the Chattanooga Zoo.

Photo

An endangered western red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) named Nigalya at the Chattanooga Zoo. This animal was hand raised, and is very sweet and docile. He’s trained to walk around on a leash, and is taken to schools and events. He can be parked on a dime for grapes and grape jelly. He’s also 15 1/2 years old, making him ancient in the red panda world. He also loves the snow leopards, and they love him. When they see him coming on his leash, they come up to the wire, press into it and purr, inviting him to scratch them.