There is good news for one of the world’s most threatened mammals. Hertfordshire Zoo has confirmed that its red panda twins, born in June to first-time parents Nila and Ash, are one boy and one girl, a discovery made during their first veterinary health check.
It is a small moment with a big weight behind it. With fewer than 10,000 red pandas left in the wild, driven towards the edge by deforestation, habitat fragmentation and poaching in the Eastern Himalayas, every healthy birth counts.
The examination confirmed that both cubs are healthy and hitting every developmental goal, though keepers noted the fluffy duo weren’t shy about showing off their feisty characters during the weigh-in.
After spending their early weeks tucked away in sheltered nest boxes to avoid the record-breaking summer heat, the red panda twins are now regularly out and about. Visitors can increasingly spot them testing their climbing skills, clambering right to the top of the tall trees in their habitat alongside mum Nila.
‘When they arrived in June, it was our first set of red panda twins in twelve years, and watching them grow from tiny newborns into bold, adventurous climbers has been extraordinary’
Tyler Whitnall, Managing Director at Hertfordshire Zoo.
A male and a female cub bring valuable genetic diversity to Europe’s coordinated breeding programme, which safeguards the species for the future.
Finding out we have one boy and one girl is the absolute icing on the cake,’ said Tyler Whitnall, Managing Director at Hertfordshire Zoo. ‘When they arrived in June, it was our first set of red panda twins in twelve years, and watching them grow from tiny newborns into bold, adventurous climbers has been extraordinary. Nila has done an incredible job raising them, and seeing them both healthy, thriving, and full of character gives our entire team a massive boost.’
The Red Panda is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 10,000 individuals remaining in the wild due to rapid deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and poaching in the Eastern Himalayas.
The birth and continued development of the mixed-sex twins carries huge international significance. As part of the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP), which oversees coordinated breeding to safeguard endangered species, the arrival of both a male and a female provides valuable genetic diversity for future conservation efforts across Europe.
‘As a wildlife conservation charity, Hertfordshire Zoo is committed to helping protect endangered species and raising awareness of the challenges they face in the wild’ added Tyler. ‘The birth and healthy development of these twins is not only an exciting milestone for our zoo, but an important reminder of why protecting these incredible animals and their natural habitats is so vital’.
With the autumn season underway, the twins are at their most playful and active. Guests visiting Hertfordshire Zoo can now watch the young pair exploring their habitat and discovering the world around them.
