TOSHIYUKI TAKEYA/ Staff Writer
January 27, 2017 at 07:00 JST
Editor's note: This is part of a series of videos offering an up-close perspective on the animal kingdom. A special 360-degree video camera system was set up in zoos and other facilities to show how the animals view their world as they interact.
Also visit our special 360-DEGREE LIVES page (http://t.asahi.com/360lives), where you can watch all the previous videos.
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Futa may be getting on in years, but the red panda can still charm visitors to the Chiba Zoological Park in Chiba by standing upright.
Now aged 13, Futa was just 2 years old in 2005 when he became a nationwide sensation by striking a cute pose by rearing up on just his two hinds legs.
Red pandas are also known as lesser pandas.
Futa still draws a crowd at his enclosure, where he can be seen standing up and reaching out to grab slices of apple held by a zoo attendant, always surrounded by his "children" and "grandchildren."
In this segment of 360-DEGREE LIVES, Meimei, a partner of Futa’s third male cub Kuta, and their twin cubs Yu and Yui were captured by the video camera.
The mother and daughters were initially seen resting in a tree. According to a zoo attendant, red pandas tend to dwell in trees where they feel safe from predators.
When bamboo leaves and apple slices--their favorite foods--are offered, one of the red pandas cautiously approaches and starts nibbling. The other two join in the action as they circle around the camera.
But about 10 minutes after the camera started rolling, banging noises can be heard. One of Futa’s "granddaughters" has found the plywood board on which the camera is installed and started scratching it with her sharp claws. The camera is knocked over and lands on its side.
Futa’s partner Chichi died in 2015 after 10 years together. He sired five male and three female cubs with her. Of them, seven were transferred to other zoos.
Their children bred 20 cubs, which made Futa a "grandfather." A "great-grandchild" was also born.
His fourth male cub Kota went to Chile in 2014, becoming the first member of the family to cross the ocean.
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