Toronto Zoo red panda cub has been named ‘Poppy’ [Video]

An endangered red panda cub who is among the only surviving members of its family at the Toronto Zoo has a new name.

The cub will officially be called “Poppy” after the name received 6,500 votes from members of the zoo community, beating out four other options.

Poppy and her sibling were born on June 13, 2024, to Sakura, a 10-year-old female red panda at the Toronto Zoo.

Unfortunately, her sibling died in August after being incubated in the intensive care unit, the Toronto Zoo said. The staff at the zoo had hoped to watch Sakura raise both her cubs.

Sakura then passed away a few weeks later after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The name ‘Poppy’ was chosen from a group of five floral-themed names in honour of Sakura, which is the Japanese word for flowering cherry blossom trees.

The cub had previously been given the nickname “Biggie.”

Poppy will now venture into her outdoor habitat …