Futa (red panda)

Futa (born 2003) is a male red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in the zoo of Chiba, Japan. In 2005, he became a visitor attraction and a television celebrity in Japan for his ability to stand upright on his hind feet for about ten seconds at a time.[1][2]

At the time, this feat drew about 6,000 visitors to the zoo each weekend and resulted in Futa's appearance in a soft drink television advertisement.[2] Futa inspired the character of Pabu, an animal companion in the animated U.S. TV series The Legend of Korra.[3]

References
  1. "Photo in the News: Standing Panda Is Big in Japan". National Geographic. May 24, 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  2. "Standing red panda becomes latest Japanese star". USA Today. 2 June 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  3. Konietzko, Bryan (September 28, 2012). "Years ago, on the Avatar production, ..." Retrieved 29 September 2012.
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