Futa_(red_panda)

Futa (red panda)

Futa (red panda)

Japanese zoo animal (b. 2003)

Futa (born 2003) is a male red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in the zoo of Chiba, Japan. In 2005, he became a visitor attraction and a television celebrity in Japan for his ability to stand upright on his hind feet for about ten seconds at a time.[1][2]

Futa in 2005

At the time, this feat drew about 6,000 visitors to the zoo each weekend and resulted in Futa's appearance in a soft drink television advertisement.[2] Futa was still at it in 2020, aged 15, equivalent to a human age of 70.[3]

Futa inspired the character of Pabu, an animal companion in the animated U.S. TV series The Legend of Korra.[4]

References

  1. [1]
    "Photo in the News: Standing Panda Is Big in Japan". National Geographic. May 24, 2005. Archived from the original on May 29, 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  2. [2]
    "Standing red panda becomes latest Japanese star". USA Today. 2 June 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  3. [3]
    "Red panda Futa still standing for fans, and apples, at 15 yrs old". Mainichi Daily News. 2018-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  4. [4]
    Konietzko, Bryan (September 28, 2012). "Years ago, on the Avatar production, ..." Retrieved 29 September 2012.
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