LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Zoo on Tuesday announced a new addition to its roster: Sundara the red panda.

Nicknamed "Sunny D," Sundara is the first red panda to live at the Louisville Zoo since the 1970s.

Sundara is a 1-year-old male red panda at the Louisville Zoo. These animals haven't been at the Louisville Zoo since the 70s. (Louisville Zoo/Kyle Shepherd)

The new, endangered resident comes to the Zoo from the Kansas City Zoo in Kansas City, Missouri. He currently weighs in at 8 lbs. Guests can see him in Glacier Run in the former snowy owl exhibit next to the Splash Park. 

“There are so many fun things to learn about this unique species that we haven’t seen at the Zoo since the early days,” said Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney. 

While they look a lot like bears, red pandas are actually in a group that shares traits with raccoons and skunks, Maloney added. "We are very excited to have red pandas back at the Zoo and to be sharing this species with Kentuckiana.” 

Red pandas are found in the Himalayan forests in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar (Burma) and southern China. Red pandas are crepuscular (most active at dusk and dawn), arboreal (tree dwelling) and solitary. They spend most of their day resting to conserve energy.