Lincoln Park Zoo welcomes new red panda just in time for Lunar New Year

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A new red panda moved to Lincoln Park Zoo just in time for Lunar New Year.

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Qi, is an adult male. The 7-year-old red panda was moved from New York to be a mate for Nisha, another red panda at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

"Red pandas are an endangered species, so the potential for cubs from Nisha and Qi is particularly exciting," said Curator Cassy Kutilek.

The Lincoln Park Zoo said red pandas were actually the first animal to be called a panda.

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The zoo said the black and white giant pandas were named after because they look similar.

Red pandas are classified as the only living member of the Ailuridae family, which are distantly related to raccoons but classified separately.