The Lincoln Park Zoo’s red panda cubs — and Chicago Cubs namesakes — Clark and Addison are set to make their public debut this week at the Lincoln Park Zoo, just in time for the playoffs.
The cubs had a veterinary check-up Friday and were cleared to join their mother Leafa and father Phoenix on exhibit at the Kovler Lion House at 1 p.m. Thursday, according to a release from the North Side zoo. Beginning Friday, they will be on exhibit at 10 a.m. every day.
Clark, a boy, and Addison, a girl, were born June 26 and have spent the last few months growing in size and strength, learning to climb and becoming more independent, according to the zoo. They will be on and off exhibit intermittently as they adjust to the transition from behind-the-scenes.
“The first months of red panda cubs’ lives are critical for survival,” the zoo’s curator of primates Mark Kamhout said in the release.
“Leafa was very protective of her cubs, but curiosity could not keep them in their den and the cubs have spent the law few weeks exploring their behind-the-scenes area from climbing to exploring new sights and smells,” Kamhout said.
Though red pandas looks like raccoons and have panda in their name, they are not related to either species. They are from the Himalayan mountain range and are considered a vulnerable species.
