Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire is proud to announce that their endangered red panda, Tilly, has given birth to a miracle cub one month after the devastating passing of her partner Nam Pang, creating a lasting legacy in his honour.
In the early hours of 16th July, on one of the hottest days in UK history, the zoo’s CCTV cameras captured the incredible moment. The cub is currently being called ‘little red’ until it is old enough to have its first health checks by the vet in the upcoming months.
The couple were part of the international breeding programme but they had not successfully conceived over the past four years. Red pandas are naturally solitary animals, but after Nam Pang’s death, keepers wanted to ensure that Tilly continued to be comfortable and happy on her own. Whilst watching her closely, they noticed two weeks after his passing that she had begun to nest. This makes this miracle birth even more poignant.
During morning checks, Tilly’s keepers noticed a small furry addition laying next to her in the nest box. The cub is still very vulnerable up to six months old but is growing well. Red panda cubs do not begin venturing out of the nest for around two to three months after birth. However, Tilly continues to be spotted by her adoring fans enjoying the sunshine and people watching across the zoo.
Aaron Whitnall, star of the CBBC show One Zoo Three and Operations Coordinator at the zoo, states: “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.”
The Hertfordshire zoo is part of the European Ex-Situ Breeding Programme to help create a safety net for endangered species in the wild. Red pandas are classed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List, with less than 2,500 remaining in the wild. They are highly threatened due to deforestation and the illegal pet trade, and the zoo works closely with the Red Panda Network to help conserve this species.
Find out more about the red panda in our fact file here.
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Main image credit: Paradise Wildlife Park
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