The Cape May County Park and Zoo has a new resident. Dr. Stephen Wallace, aka Wally, a one year old red panda arrived at the zoo back in May from Zoo Knoxville. Officials said he was named after a paleontologist who discovered red panda fossils at the Gray Fossil Site in East Tennessee. Thos e fossils were ancestors of red pandas in Asia. Keepers shared that Wally is very adventurous and loves checking out new furniture and enrichment. He is also a huge fan of snacks. Wally can be seen daily in the rear panda yard, but he sometimes goes into his building, so guests are encouraged to check back if they don’t see him. Ember, the zoo’s other red panda, can still be seen in the front panda yard. Officials said, based on the recommendations of the Red Panda Species Survival Plan program, the next step is to introduce the two in the near future. “The Cape May County Zoo was just named one of the best free attractions in the Country according to USA Today, and the commitment to continuing to improve and grow is one of the reasons why,” Cape May County Commissioner Director Leonard C. Desiderio said in a news release. “The Zoo is one of the premier anchors for tourism in our County bringing in 750,000 people last year.” Officials said red pandas are native to the eastern Himalayan mountains in Asia and are found in temperate forests. Red pandas were recorded and named 50 years before giant pandas, making them the original panda. “We are excited to announce this new addition and celebrate Wally’s birthday with the public,” said Cape May County Commissioner Vice-Director Andrew Bulakowski, who is also the liaison to the Cape May County Park and Zoo. “I can’t thank the team enough at the Park and Zoo for their tireless dedication and enthusiasm to provide the best experience possible for our residents and visitors.” The Cape May County Parks and Zoo is open daily. The parks are open from 7 a.m. to dusk, and the zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit CMCZoo.com for more information. ...read more read less