ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — A new animal at the Chehaw Zoo is drawing attention from visitors.

The zoo held a ribbon-cutting today to celebrate Mira’s arrival. Chehaw Zoo staff said she is on loan from the Georgia Untamed Zoo in Hogansville, Georgia.

Binturongs are native to Southeast Asia. While they are naturally carnivores, staff said they mostly eat fruits and vegetables.

Staff said Mira’s favorite snack is bananas.

Samantha Sassone, Chehaw Living Collections director, said the zoo hopes the exhibit will help visitors learn about binturongs and highlight the importance of conservation.

“We want people to come out here, see these animals, and realize how amazing they are, and make a connection with them emotionally,” Sassone said. “Just, you know, to realize that they’re worth saving in the wild and their habitats are worth saving. So hopefully, Mira can be a representative of her species and her ecosystem and get people to realize how important they are.”

By the time WALB arrived to see Mira, she was taking a nap. Chehaw Zoo staff said the best time to see her is in the morning, when zookeepers feed her and it is cooler outside.

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