Panda Family Tale Part Two

Today, the continuation of Travalon's story about his red panda family:

Mandy Panda had no choice- despite all the potential dangers she had to send Andy out to find his missing father and older brother. She had to stay home and keep little Shandi safe. She also consulted with her sister, Brandi Panda and was advised to do so. 

Andy understood what was being asked of him. He was very determined to find them and lead them home safely no matter what it took! He knew his father liked to wander along the Lachung River, and the bamboo trees which provide leaves for red pandas to eat along it were plentiful, giving him the idea that his father most likely would have gone that way for food so he decided to follow that route. 

A few hours went by and there was no sign of his father, let alone any other red pandas or animals. He was truly all alone, or so he thought. Suddenly he heard footsteps and heard human voices. It was two other WWF Panda rescuers, and they snuck up on him from behind.

" Come here little one, we won't hurt you.." the man reached toward Andy. Andy, frightened and confused, would have none of it and scratched the man's arm. The man screamed in pain and the woman swiftly stuck a needle in Andy's back, tranquilizing him. Off he went to their camp for evaluation.

Meanwhile, Randy Panda's fate was determined. He was the chosen red panda to be adopted by Famous Hat as a Christmas gift for me and was to be sent to be our new domesticated pet at our home half a world away from Sikkim in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. In the days this transition took place, Randy was a bit scared, but also excited about this new life ahead of him. On arrival in Washington DC, he felt the chill of the North American winter, and saw the snow, it reminded him of the high mountain country of Sikkim. After going through final health and behavior checks at the Red Panda Center at the zoo in Wheeling, West Virginia, he was transported right to our home. He adjusted to his new surroundings well, and developed a lasting friendship with Dieter our little German Shepherd watchdog. He enjoys sleeping in our large bed with us, watching movies with me in my recliner and being  cuddled every night. He also has access to the trees in our backyard via a trap door where he could spend hours each day climbing or playing in the snow. 

Back in Sikkim, at the WWF camp, the rescuers were uncertain about Andy's fate, whether he could become an adoptable domestic pet, or if  he was better suited to be a zoo resident in China or America, or let loose back into the wilds of Sikkim. They just didn't have the right equipment for this complex analysis. The Red Panda Center in Wheeling was booked up, but they found another American zoo where this task could be performed- the Como Zoo in Minneapolis. After a few days of extensive DNA and blood type and behavioral tests on poor confused little Andy, it was determined he was eligible to be an adoptable house pet. It was found that his DNA matched that of a red panda's who was adopted and living with a family only 250 miles away- Randy's! 

Working with the WWF, the Como zoo's staff called us asking if we wanted to adopt Andy as well and reunite the two brothers. We agreed without hesitation! We were on our way to the Twin Cities with Randy along, not knowing the excitement of the soon-to-be reunion with his little brother. 

Meanwhile, back in Sikkim despite a small  forest fire nearby, Mandy and Shandi were safe at home in their den although worried to tears about the others, still missing. Mandy was a positive optimistic thinker, and something inside her made her believe the others were alive and safe. Little Shandi couldn't sleep, she cried for her missing daddy and brothers every night. 
We know where Randy and Andy were. What about dear old Grandy? After fending for himself in the wild for days and surviving a brief encounter with a snow leopard in which he sustained a paw injury, he found a safe place to stay for awhile also- the home of his sister, Miranda Panda!

Would this happy red panda family ever be all together in the same place again? Stay tuned!

To be continued...

Travalon