This Red Panda is quickly becoming popular, An of the Yumemigasaki Public Zoo/Kawasaki December 26, 2011

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112250020/

Caption: The increasingly popular red panda "An" brings many park visitors=The Yumemigasaki Public Zoo of Kawasaki City, Saiwai Ward.

The newest animal to join the Kawasaki City Yumemigasaki Public Zoo (Minamikase, Saiwai ward) is the red panda, An (Female, 1 year and 6 months old), who quickly became quite popular. After the public unveiling on the 23rd, the area of the exhibition room has been endlessly visited by spectators. As far the children are concerned, the red panda would make a quite appropriate Christmas present.

On the 12th of this month, An arrived from Saitama prefecture's Children's Animal and Nature Zoo. After training to accustom her to the enclosure and exhibit room, she was introduced to the public on the 23rd.

According to Mr. Hasegawa Makoto (zoo keeper), at first, threatening gestures were displayed towards the zookeepers. After about three days, An's wariness seemed to thin. It was said that when given her favorite foods of apples and bamboo, her energy evened out. In the display room, she busily moves around. Trying to climb through the wire net and get as close as possible to the visitors, she seemingly services them with her heart and overflowing energy.

A son (Age 5) visiting with his father said: "I'm grateful for being able to come. The tail is so long furry, it's very cute.

The same park was left with no red pandas after a pair died from illness during November of last year. With the addition of An one year later, the exhibit room has been renewed.


Original Text:
レッサーパンダ早くも人気者に、夢見ケ崎動物公園の「アン」/川崎 2011年12月26日

多くの来園者の人気者になっているレッサーパンダの「アン」＝川崎市幸区の市夢見ケ崎動物公園

川崎市夢見ケ崎動物公園（幸区南加瀬）に新たに仲間入りしたレッサーパンダの「アン（雌、１歳６カ月）が、早くも人気になっている。一般公開の始まった23日以降、展示室の周囲には見物客が絶えず、子どもたちにとっては格好のクリスマスプレゼントになったようだ。

アンは今月12日に、埼玉県こども動物自然公園から来園。展示室や獣舎に慣らすトレーニングを行った後、23日に一般客に初めてお披露目された。

 飼育員の長谷川誠さんによると、当初は飼育員を威嚇するしぐさを示していたが、３日ほどで警戒心も薄らいだようで、好物の竹やリンゴを元気に平らげているという。展示室内ではせわしなく動き回り、金網越しに観客のすぐそばまで近寄るなどサービス精神も旺盛のようだ。

 父と訪れた男児（５）は「来てくれてうれしい。しっぽが長くてふさふさで、とてもかわいい」と話していた。

 同公園は昨年11月にペア２匹の病死後、レッサーパンダが不在だった。アンの仲間入りで、約１年ぶりの展示復活となった。