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Beloved Red Panda Leafa Passes, Leaves Lasting Legacy

1/14/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Leafa, the beloved female red panda at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, has passed away after a long battle with health issues. Arriving in 2018 alongside her partner Phoenix, she was a trailblazer as the first red panda in the region. Her legacy lives on through her eight cubs, vital to the Red Panda Species Survival Plan.

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Story summary

Leafa, the beloved female red panda at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, has passed away after a long battle with health issues. Arriving in 2018 alongside her partner Phoenix, she was a trailblazer as the first red panda in the region. Her legacy lives on through her eight cubs, vital to the Red Panda Species Survival Plan.