SPECIMEN No.0001 ・ Zoo
Futa風太
Name romanized from Japanese; not an official English name.
Red PandaAilurus fulgensEN— Endangered
Futa is a Red Panda recorded at Chiba Zoological Park. Born July 5, 2003.
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Profile
| Name | Futa (風太) |
|---|---|
| Species | Red Panda Ailurus fulgens |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | July 5, 2003 |
| Birth Facility | Shizuoka Municipal Nihondaira Zoo |
| Current Facility | Chiba Zoological Park（Chiba） |
| Enclosure | 小動物ゾーン |
| Status | In residence |
| Conservation Status (IUCN) | EN— Endangered |
Timeline
- July 5, 2003 Birth Shizuoka Municipal Nihondaira Zoo Source
Records
Born in 2003 at Nihondaira Zoo in Shizuoka, he moved to Chiba Zoological Park in 2004. In 2005, the sight of him standing bolt upright on his hind legs became a nationwide sensation, and he went on to drive the red panda boom in Japan.
On July 5, 2026, he celebrated his 23rd birthday, making him the oldest red panda in captivity in the world. About 460 people attended the birthday ceremony, where he was presented with a handmade birthday cake. Although he was not scheduled to be on display, when the door was opened he came out for an energetic stroll. His keepers wished him a long life, hoping to celebrate 'here again next year.'
On the day of his 23rd birthday, his keepers presented past photos and videos and gave an update on his condition at the zoo's Animal Science Museum, and the cake presentation was livestreamed from Futa's sleeping quarters. The zoo also handed out limited-edition special cards to the first 2,000 visitors and sold a commemorative menu item, 'Pudding a la Futa,' limited to 50 servings a day.
To mark his 23rd birthday, a limited-time sale of '3D card NFTs' featuring a 3D rendering of Futa was announced, created through a collaboration between Chiba Zoological Park and Pacific Consultants.
Family
No family relationships have been confirmed in official announcements.
FAQ
- Where can I meet Futa?
- Futa is recorded at Chiba Zoological Park in Chiba (last verified: 2026-09-26).
- When was Futa born?
- Futa was born July 5, 2003.
- What does Futa’s record tell us?
- Futa is recorded as born on July 5, 2003. The record at Chiba Zoological Park was last verified on 2026-09-26.
Last verified: ／ Source: www.city.chiba.jp www.chibanippo.co.jp www.pacific.co.jp