Six-month-old giant panda cub Katyusha delighted visitors at the Moscow Zoo on March 8 as she made her much-anticipated public debut. The adorable cub is the first giant panda ever born in Russia, a significant milestone for the country’s conservation efforts.
Katyusha was born to giant panda mother Ding Ding and father Ru Yi, who arrived in Moscow in April 2019 as part of a 15-year collaborative research program between Russia and China aimed at studying and conserving this endangered species. The arrival of the cub marks a successful step in the breeding program and symbolizes the strong ties between the two nations in wildlife conservation.
Her name, Katyusha, was selected through a public naming contest that attracted over 380,000 votes, reflecting the immense public interest and affection for the new panda. The name “Katyusha” has cultural significance in Russia, being a diminutive form of the name Ekaterina and also the title of a popular wartime song.
Visitors to the zoo gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of Katyusha as she explored her new enclosure, playfully climbing structures and interacting with her mother. The debut of the cub is expected to boost tourism and raise awareness about panda conservation in Russia and beyond.
Giant pandas are native to the Chinese mainland and are considered a national treasure. International breeding programs are essential for their conservation, and the successful birth of Katyusha demonstrates the effectiveness of these collaborative efforts.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
