For the first time in five years, the Potawatomi Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a red panda cub, born on June 13 to mother Raya and father EJ. This breeding was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Red Panda Species Survival Plan (SSP). Raya was born at the Potawatomi Zoo in 2021.
Raya gave birth to five cubs, an incredibly rare large litter size. Because there were so many cubs, they were all very small and several of them failed to live longer than a couple of days, which, even under the best circumstances, isn’t unusual. The mortality rate for red panda cubs is nearly 50% in the first year of life.
Initially, the goal was to let Raya raise her cubs without intervention. Despite promising first efforts, General Curator Jami Richard and Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Allison Dianis determined that Raya wouldn’t be able care for her cubs. After discussion with the Red Panda Species Survival Plan, the difficult decision was made to hand-rear the two surviving male cubs. However, even with the best care behind the scenes, one of the cubs didn’t survive.
The remaining male cub, currently known as Big Red, continues to be hand-reared by zoo staff. He seems to be healthy and growing normally, even though he is still a little small for his age. Staff are cautiously optimistic about his future.
Breeding season for red pandas is between January and March. In the wild, red pandas give birth in tree hollows. They typically have one to four offspring.
Red panda cubs are born with their eyes and ears closed; they open at around three weeks of age. At birth, red panda cubs are grey and wooly. Their reddish guard hairs start to appear after two weeks.
Red pandas are indigenous to a narrow geographical area stretching across the eastern Himalayas and southern China. Their physical structure, like their thick coat and furred feet, as well as their low metabolic rate, make them well-adapted to cool-weather environments. Red pandas are part of the order Carnivora due to their digestive system structure, although because of their natural environment, the species has adapted to largely consuming bamboo and shoots.
Red pandas are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. It is estimated that there are fewer than 10,000 wild red pandas, and their population is decreasing due to threats like habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and poaching.
