A red panda cub born this summer at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is ready for a name, and the public has been tapped to help choose.
The female cub was born June 11 to mother Keahi and father Rocket at the zoo's conservation campus in Front Royal, Virginia, according to the Smithsonian. She was one of three red panda cubs born at the facility this summer.
Two other cubs, a male and a female, arrived May 29 to parents Sequoia and Mow Mow.
Now, the zoo's animal care team has proposed three names for Keahi and Rocket's daughter: Pyra, Dolpa, and Dolly, inspired by legendary country music singer Dolly Parton, who died in August.
The public can vote for its favorite through the zoo's online ballot. Voting closes Saturday,
Oct. 17.
How did keepers care for the red panda cubs this summer?
Red panda cubs generally have low survival rates, according to the Smithsonian, making early care especially important.
With both mothers considered relatively inexperienced, keepers moved the pandas into air-conditioned indoor spaces before the hottest weather arrived. They also elevated the nest boxes off the ground in hopes of reducing stress on the mothers.
Staff are monitoring the families through cameras installed in the nest boxes. Male red pandas do not help care for their offspring, the Smithsonian said.
What should you know about red pandas?
Red pandas are endangered animals native to high-altitude forests in Asia, including Nepal, India and China. They primarily eat bamboo, which makes up about 95% of their diet, according to the Smithsonian.
The species faces threats including habitat loss, human interference and poaching. The Smithsonian says its National Zoo has recorded more than 100 surviving red panda cubs born since 1962.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A red panda cub named after Dolly Parton? How you can help decide
