Sparsholt College Group are delighted to share that two Red Panda cubs have been born to parents Meeko and Thimpi in the Animal Health and Welfare Research Centre (AHWRC) at Sparsholt Campus.
The Red Panda cubs, born in late June, are growing in confidence and looking more like their parents every day. The cubs are still being fed milk by Meeko; however, she is beginning to leave them alone for longer to encourage them to gain independence and make their own way out of the nest box.
The AHWRC team are overjoyed, as the birth is both an incredible achievement for them and a victory for this much-loved species which is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Shani Ratnayake, AHWRC Manager, shared her excitement:
“We are extremely proud of Meeko and Thimpi who were only together for a short time before breeding. The animal keeping team have been instrumental in caring for the cubs and ensuring they get everything they need. First time mums can sometimes find cubs a little tricky however, Meeko is doing a fantastic job, and the cubs are turning into quite the characters. They are currently spending their time inside with air-conditioning inside, but we are hoping to see them outside soon.”
Maisie Blunt, Zoo Mammals Keeper explained:
“Although the exact numbers are unknown due to the elusive nature of the species, it is thought that there is less than 10,000 in the wild, with the population decreasing. This makes it even more incredible that we have welcomed two cubs. With September 20th being International Red Panda Day, it reminds us how important it is to do everything we can to help keep them around for the future.”
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