Zoo Welcomes Red Panda on His First Birthday

Our community's beloved Cape May County Park and Zoo has a special reason to celebrate today — the arrival of an adorable new resident who's marking his very first birthday. Dr. Stephen Wallace, affectionately known as Wally, is a red panda who made the journey from Zoo Knoxville last month and is now calling Cape May County home.

Born on June 3 as one of two males in his litter, Wally carries a distinguished name with an interesting backstory. He was named after a paleontologist who discovered red panda fossils at the Gray Fossil Site in East Tennessee — fossils that belonged to ancestors of today's Asian red pandas.

According to his keepers, the young panda is already showing plenty of personality. They describe him as curious and adventurous, with a particular fondness for exploring new furniture and enrichment items in his habitat. He's also proven to be quite social, enjoying interactions with his new caretakers — especially when treats are involved.

Visitors eager to meet Dr. Wallace can find him in the rear panda yard during daily zoo hours. However, since he has the freedom to retreat into his building whenever he chooses, guests who don't spot him right away are encouraged to check back later. Meanwhile, Ember, the zoo's other red panda, remains visible in the front panda yard.

The zoo's red panda program is carefully managed through the Red Panda Species Survival Plan (SSP), which coordinates breeding and housing recommendations across participating institutions. Following SSP guidance, zoo staff plan to introduce Dr. Wallace and Ember in the near future. This same program recently recommended that Aurora, the zoo's former resident red panda, relocate to another facility.

"The Cape May County Zoo was just named one of the best free attractions in the Country according to USA Today, and the commitment to continuing to improve and grow is one of the reasons why," said Cape May County Commissioner Director Leonard C. Desiderio. "The Zoo is one of the premier anchors for tourism in our County bringing in 750,000 people last year."

Red pandas are native to the eastern Himalayan mountains of Asia, where they inhabit temperate forests and survive primarily on a bamboo-based diet. Their striking red coats have earned them the charming nickname "firefox." In a fun twist of zoological history, red pandas were actually recorded and named half a century before giant pandas, making them the original bearers of the panda name.

"We are excited to announce this new addition and celebrate Wally's birthday with the public," said Cape May County Commissioner Vice-Director Andrew Bulakowski, who serves as liaison to the Cape May County Park and Zoo. "I can't thank the team enough at the Park and Zoo for their tireless dedication and enthusiasm to provide the best experience possible for our residents and visitors."

The Cape May County Park and Zoo welcomes visitors daily, with park grounds open from 7 a.m. until dusk and zoo exhibits accessible from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about visiting and meeting Dr. Wallace, visit CMCZoo.com.