Utica Zoo Red Panda Momo Leaving for Breeding Program; Brother Bao Stays

Momo, one of the two male red pandas born at the Utica Zoo on June 29, 2025, is moving to another accredited zoo early next week, the Rome Sentinel reported. The zoo says this weekend, Oct. 24–25, is the time to stop by the red panda exhibit and see him off.

He's going to pair with a female under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, which manages breeding to protect the endangered species. The receiving zoo wasn't named.

His brother Bao stays in Utica and is waiting on a female companion of his own; the zoo says it will share news when that happens. Momo and Bao are cubs of Mei Lin, the zoo's late female red panda.

The zoo is also planning a new red panda exhibit in its Asian Realm and has $20,000 toward it from the Peter Corigliano IV Memorial Fund. No timeline was given.

Check uticazoo.org for hours before you go.