WATCH: Two adorable red panda cubs born at Whipsnade Zoo
Two tiny red panda cubs have been born at Whipsnade Zoo in a double boost for the endangered species.
Born overnight on Thursday 16 July to five-year-old mum Ruby and six-year-old dad Nilo, the six-week-old cubs are growing bigger and stronger every day under the care of their experienced mum – and the watchful eyes of vets and zookeepers.
The pair weighed just 90 grams when born – around the weight of a banana – and have yet to develop their characteristic red coats.
And they’ll be ready to start taking their first tentative steps out of the nest at around three months.
Amanda Robinson, primate section manager at Whipsnade Zoo, said: “We knew Ruby was pregnant from her behaviour changes and weight gain, so we were absolutely delighted when these two healthy babies arrived back in July.
“We’re keeping a close eye on the family while giving them space to bond and grow, and it's clear Ruby is an excellent mum and has been doing a brilliant job caring for her two little ones.
“The cubs are still very young and we won’t know their sexes until their first health check with our veterinary team, at around ten weeks old. At that point, we’ll also start thinking about naming the duo.”
Despite their name, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas.
They are an EDGE species – Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered – meaning losing them would mean losing an entire branch of the tree of life.
Red pandas are also classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with numbers in the wild – in the forests of the Himalayas and south-western China – declining, due to habitat loss, a reduction in their bamboo food supply and poaching.
The family at Whipsnade conservation zoo are part of an important European conservation breeding programme for red pandas, helping to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse safety population in zoos, while ZSL conservationists work to protect red pandas and their habitats in the wild.