The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo would like to introduce Sumac, Saffron and Cassia. Calgary’s zoo announced the names of its three female red panda cubs on Monday. “Inspired by spices and flavours from the Himalayan region where red pandas are found in the wild, these names are a beautiful tribute to the species’ native habitat,” the zoo posted to social media. The names were voted on, and the zoo said Sumac, Saffron and Cassia were the choices of more than 80 per cent of those who took part. Over Facebook, the zoo said Sumac is pronounced “SOO-mak” while Saffron is pronounced “SAF-ron” and Cassia is pronounced “KASH-uh.” Mom Udaya gave birth to the three female red panda cubs on June 8. Officials said at the time it was the third litter for her and her mate, Linus.
