March 1, 2021
COMMUNITY / A.C.E.
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 11
Mei Mei and her “Prince of Pounce” are moving to Montana
Last summer, during a year when smiles
were in high demand, Mei Mei, a red panda
at the Oregon Zoo, gave birth to a tiny cub
who would later be named Pabu.
Red panda cubs are born blind, their
eyes only opening after a few weeks, and
they don’t leave the maternity den for a
few months. Pabu proved quite a handful
once he did emerge. Nicknamed the
“Prince of Pounce,” the young red panda
earned a reputation for surprising Mei Mei
with playful ambushes.
Now a handsome — and still somewhat
rambunctious — young adult, Pabu will
soon be moving with Mei Mei to a new
home at ZooMontana in Billings. The pair
is expected to depart for “Big Sky Country”
in early March. The last day to view them
at the Oregon Zoo is Sunday, March 7.
“It’s been so much fun to watch Pabu
grow, and to see the way Mei Mei has
taken care of him,” keeper Sara Morgan
said. “The timing for this is right, but we’re
really going to miss them.”
The move is necessary, Morgan said,
because little Pabu is growing up.
“Wild red pandas are solitary except
during breeding season, and the males are
territorial,” she explained. “Pabu’s getting
too old to stay with his dad now, but he’s
still too young to venture off without
mom.”
Pabu’s father, Moshu, will remain in
Portland and enjoy his “alone time,”
Morgan said.
While it’s hard to see Pabu and Mei Mei
go, keepers are happy the pair will have a
good home at ZooMontana. Their new
habitat, nestled among the zoo’s many
PPP loans aimed specifically at small businesses with
fewer than 20 employees available through March 10
A prioritized Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application period for small
businesses opened on Wednesday, February 24 and ends on Wednesday, March 10.
During the 14-day window, only businesses with fewer than 20 employees are able to
apply for relief through the program.
Small businesses, sole proprietors, independent contractors, self-employed persons,
businesses with a NAICS code that begins with 72 (accommodations and food services)
and that have more than one physical location, and others affected by the coronavirus
(COVID-19) may be eligible to apply for the forgivable loans.
To learn more or to start the application process, visit the Small Business
Administration at <www.sba.gov/article/2021/feb/22/sba-prioritizes-smallest-small-
businesses-paycheck-protection-program>, or the Small Business Development Center
at <https://oregonsbdc.org>. To locate a bank that is a PPP lender, go to
<www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/lender-match>.
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First round of the Landlord Compensation Fund closes March 2
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has launched the Landlord
Compensation Fund Program, which is designed to provide relief to residential landlords
who have been unable to collect tenant rent due to tenant hardships. The Oregon
Legislature has provided $150 million in one-time funds for this voluntary program to
assist landlords in keeping financially stressed tenants in their homes.
The first round of funding includes rent owed from April 2020 through February 2021.
Participating landlords must accept 80 cents for every dollar of qualified rent owed.
OHCS is planning multiple rounds of the funding. Applications are not offered on a
first-come, first-served basis.
The first application round went live on Wednesday, February 17 and closes on
Tuesday, March 2. To learn more, visit <www.oregon.gov/ohcs/housing-assistance/
Pages/landlord-compensation-fund.aspx>.
large cottonwood trees, features two yards
with lots of climbing opportunities.
“The staff at ZooMontana have a lot of
experience caring for this species,” Morgan
said. “Last year, they had to say goodbye to
their beloved 22-year-old Taylor, who was
believed to be the oldest red panda in the
world. I’m sure Pabu’s youthful energy will
keep them on their toes.”
Over time, ZooMontana keepers hope to
periodically introduce Mei Mei and Pabu
to their resident red panda, Duli.
Mei Mei and Pabu’s move is taking place
on a recommendation from the Association
of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species
Survival Plan for red pandas — a
cooperative program that helps maintain a
genetically diverse, self-sustaining popu-
lation to guarantee the long-term future of
the animals.
MOVE TO MONTANA. Last summer, during a
year when smiles were in high demand, Mei Mei, a
red panda at the Oregon Zoo, gave birth to a tiny cub
who would later be named Pabu (pictured). Now a
handsome — and still somewhat rambunctious —
young adult, Pabu will soon be moving with Mei Mei
to a new home at ZooMontana in Billings. Pabu’s fa-
ther, Moshu, will remain in Portland. (Photo courtesy
of the Oregon Zoo)
Red pandas are considered an
endangered species, with populations
declining by about 50% in the past 20
years. While exact numbers are uncertain,
some estimates indicate as few as 2,500
may be left in the wild. In addition to
habitat loss and fragmentation, red
pandas also face threats from poaching
and the illegal wildlife trade.
“Fifty years ago, red pandas had healthy
populations throughout the eastern
Himalayas,” Amy Cutting, who oversees
the Oregon Zoo’s red panda area, said last
year. “But they’ve been disappearing at
alarming rates.”
Though they share part of their name
with giant pandas, red pandas are in a
class all by themselves: The sharp-
toothed, ring-tailed omnivores are the only
members of the Ailuridae family. Found in
the montane forests of the Himalayas and
major mountain ranges of southwestern
China, their striking red, white, and black
fur provides camouflage in the shadowed
nooks of the trees amongst reddish moss
and white lichens.
Mei Mei and Moshu had previously been
parents together. The pair — who both
came to Oregon in 2019 on a recommenda-
tion from the AZA’s Species Survival Plan
— also produced two cubs at the Nashville
Zoo in 2017.
To learn more, schedule a visit, or to
support the zoo with a donation, go to
<www.oregonzoo.org>.
Mini Giri’s “The Lotus Pond” on view
March 4-28 at the Waterstone Gallery
Mini Giri’s “The Lotus Pond” is schedule
to open at the Waterstone Gallery on
March 4.
In Giri’s complex new works, the artist
shares her own visual narrative inspired
by the lotus flower and pond, a common
and recurring theme in Indian art.
On 150-year-old Indian ledger paper,
Giri records the history of her migration
and the consequent return to her country
of origin in richly colored stone pigments.
The collection is an intimate palimpsest of
time and memory.
“The Lotus Pond” is on view through
March 28. The Waterstone Gallery is
located at 124 N.W. 9th Avenue in Port-
land. To learn more, call (503) 226-6196 or
visit <www.waterstonegallery.com>.
For timely information about
upcoming events, visit
<www.facebook.com/TheAsianReporter>.