Birth of endangered red panda cub a ‘symbol of hope’
The cub is currently named Little Red until it is old enough to have its first health checks by vets.
The cub of an endangered red panda has been described as a “symbol of hope”.
Red panda Tilly, from Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire, gave birth to a cub affectionally referred to as Little Red on July 16, and the “incredible” moment was captured by CCTV cameras at the zoo.
The animals met on an international breeding programme, with the zoo being part of the European Ex-Situ Breeding Programme, which aims to create a safety net for endangered species in the wild.
Aaron Whitnall, the operations co-ordinator at the zoo, said the cub has become “a symbol of hope, after the tragic passing of Nam Pang, for his memory and legacy to live on is more than we ever expected”.
Keepers are not yet able to establish the sex of Little Red but hope to do so around the six-month mark.
Red pandas have been classed as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, with less than 2,500 remaining in the wild.
They are highly threatened due to factors including deforestation and the illegal pet trade.
