Tyla

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

Two Red Panda Cubs Have Been Born At Chester Zoo And They Are Adorable

Lisa McLoughlin

Published 
| Last updated 

Two Red Panda Cubs Have Been Born At Chester Zoo And They Are Adorable

Featured Image Credit: Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo has become the lucky home to not one but two adorable red panda cubs...

Loading…

The nine-week-old twins were born on Saturday, 22nd June to mum, Nima and dad, Koda who have kept them tucked up in their nest boxes since birth.

Now, specialist vets have had their very first look at the duo, classed by conservationists as endangered in the wild, when they examined the pair during their first health check.

Advert

Speaking about the new arrivals, James Andrewes, Assistant Team Manager at the zoo, revealed that the siblings are doing very well under the watchful eye of their parents.

Credit: Chester Zoo
Credit: Chester Zoo

"Happily, both cubs are developing very well indeed and the health MOTs we've been able to perform confirmed that mum Nima is clearly doing a great job of caring for them."

Adding: "We also discovered the genders of each of the cubs - one male and one female - and returned them to their mum as soon as we'd finished giving them a quick once over.

Advert

"Nima took them straight back to her nest and it'll be a few weeks now until the cubs start to develop the confidence to come out and explore by themselves.

"Before they're able to stand on their own feet, it is though possible that some lucky people will have the occasional glimpse of Nima carrying them from nest to nest by the scruffs of their necks," he remarked.

Credit: Chester Zoo
Credit: Chester Zoo
Credit: Chester Zoo
Credit: Chester Zoo
Advert

Red pandas are found in the mountainous regions of Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar and southern China where their wild population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 - a 40 percent decline over the past 50 years.

This decrease is a direct result of human actions, such as widespread habitat destruction, trapping for the illegal pet trade and poaching for their red fur.

In recent years, Chester Zoo has been fighting for the future of the red panda, which is also known as the 'fire fox', through habitat-focused conservation projects in the Sichuan Mountains of China, where they can be found among the bamboo forests.

Conservationists at the Zoo have recently called on people's help to fight the illegal wildlife trade.

Advert
Credit: Chester Zoo
Credit: Chester Zoo

Members of the public can report any suspicious activity they may spot, online or on holiday, via the zoo's online illegal wildlife trade reporting form here.

Topics: Life News, News, Chester Zoo, Real

Lisa McLoughlin
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

News

Man arrested in connection with death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey

an hour ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

NHS advice on pulling out ingrown hairs after father is given 4% chance of survival

a day ago