By 1808Delaware; Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The saga of Kora the missing red panda took place this week, and much of the area was paying close attention to the story.
In addition to serious searches for the panda, area social media posts were full of comical and good-hearted references to the missing animal. In the end, she was found quite close to home.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has announced that Kora, who was discovered missing from her habitat during the morning hours of Wednesday, July 22, is home safe and sound.
Despite ongoing thorough search by Zoo staff, Kora was spotted by two guests who noticed her on the ground among dense foliage between the rhino habitat and the entrance of the Pachyderm Building in the Zoo’s Asia Quest region. As previously suspected by her care team members, she was not far from her habitat and her cubs. The guests quickly reported their sighting to team members at 4:43 p.m., who immediately called the Zoo’s Security and Animal Health teams.
As the team arrived to respond, Kora climbed high into a nearby tree. In attempt to coax her down, the team brought her favorite treats and, when that did not work, they carefully brought out her vocalizing cubs. While she was attentive to their sounds and moved toward them, she remained in the tree just above the rooftop of the Pachyderm Building.
Because rain clouds were moving into the area and the team did not want to risk prolonging her return with evening approaching, the decision was made to tranquilize her. She was asleep just six minutes later and at 5:56 p.m., she fell 10 feet into the waiting net of the response team.
Amid clapping and happy tears from Zoo team members, the sleeping Kora was placed in her crate and taken to the Zoo’s Animal Health Center for evaluation where she was provided care and given a clean bill of health.
Kora has since been returned to her habitat in Asia Quest, where she will have the opportunity to reunite with her cubs when she wakes. Her care team will continue their overnight watch to ensure they continue to do well, and red panda father, General Tso, will have the opportunity to join them in the morning.
The Columbus Zoo thanks our community members for the wonderful outpouring of support and offers of assistance while Kora was missing.
As they become available, updates will be provided through the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
NOTE: The reunion took place on Friday. See the video below.
Kora and her cubs were reunited this morning and all are doing well! Upon entering the den, Kora immediately began grooming her cubs and nursing was observed. General Tso, the father of the cubs, joined them this afternoon. Thank you for the wonderful outpouring of support! pic.twitter.com/UG8eBkeVIc
— Columbus Zoo (@ColumbusZoo) July 24, 2020
