Futa (red panda)
Futa (born 2003 in Shizuoka[1]) is a male red panda (Ailurus fulgens) at the Chiba Zoological Park in 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.[2][3]
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.[3] Futa was still at it in 2020, aged 15, equivalent to a human age of 70.[4]
Futa inspired the character of Pabu, an animal companion in the animated U.S. TV series The Legend of Korra.[5]
References
- ^ レッサーパンダ風太くん、きょう二十歳 人なら80超、国内5番目の高齢 千葉市動物公園 [Red panda Futa turns 20 today Over 80 in human terms, the fifth oldest in Japan Chiba Zoo]. Tokyo Shimbun (in Japanese). 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Standing red panda becomes latest Japanese star". USA Today. 2 June 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
- ^ "Red panda Futa still standing for fans, and apples, at 15 yrs old". Mainichi Daily News. 2018-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
- ^ Konietzko, Bryan (September 28, 2012). "Years ago, on the Avatar production, ..." Retrieved 29 September 2012.