Whipsnade Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a pair of red panda cubs, born on July 16. The six-week-old twins, whose sexes are yet to be determined, are still too young to have developed their distinctive fiery-red coats and their eyes remain closed.
Weighing approximately 90 grams at birth, the cubs are growing stronger daily within their nestbox. Zoo staff anticipate they will take their first steps outside around three months of age. Their parents, five-year-old Ruby and six-year-old Nilo, are being closely monitored by the zoo's primate section manager, Amanda Robinson.
"We were absolutely delighted when these two healthy babies arrived back in July," Robinson stated. "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 sex of the cubs will be determined during their first veterinary health check, expected around ten weeks old, at which point discussions about naming the duo will also begin.
The birth of these cubs is a significant event for red pandas, a species classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Red pandas are arboreal mammals, spending most of their lives in trees. Their physical adaptations include long, bushy tails for balance, sharp claws, and flexible ankles that aid in climbing branches and descending tree trunks headfirst.
