“Little Red” is making history!
TheZoological Society of Hertfordshire’s Paradise Wildlife Parkannounced in astatementon Tuesday that its endangered red panda Tilly gave birth to a “miracle” cub.
The newborn cub’s sex has not yet been determined but will be revealed during the little animal’s health checks in the upcoming months.
The birth of “Little Red” is significant for the red panda’s family, which recently suffered a loss. The cub’s father, Nam Pang, died of Addison’s disease a month before the cub was born,TheGuardianreported.
According to the English zoo’s statement, Tilly and Nam Pang were part of an international breeding program, called the European Ex-Situ Breeding Program, and had been attempting to conceive for the past four years before “Little Red” came into the world.
Tilly is doing okay after the loss of her partner. According to the U.K. zoo, red pandas are naturally solitary animals. Nevertheless, Tilly’s care team is monitoring the new mom to ensure she is comfortable parenting independently.
Paradise Wildlife Park/Facebook
“Whilst watching her closely, keepers noticed two weeks after Nam Pang’s passing Tilly had begun to nest,” the Paradise Wildlife Park shared. “With Red Panda gestation at 132 days, it would have been clear to Nam Pang, Tilly was carrying his cub prior to his passing. This makes this miracle birth even more poignant and heart aching.”
“This 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,” Aaron Whitnall, star of the CBBC showOne Zoo Three, said in the zoo’s statement.
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TheIUCN Red Listclassifies the red panda as an endangered species, with around less than 10,000 remaining in the wild. According to Paradise Wildlife Park, the species is highly threatened due to deforestation and the illegal pet trade.
source: people.com
