The Buffalo Zoo is incredibly excited to announce the birth of a red panda cub, who entered the world on June 15.
The cub was born to first-time mom Himalaya (2) and dad Mogwai (4), and is currently being hand-raised by the zoo’s veterinary team.
“This little red panda cub has already captured our hearts,” said Lisa Smith, President and CEO of the Buffalo Zoo. “While the journey hasn’t been without its challenges, our incredible veterinary and animal care teams have shown extraordinary dedication and compassion. Each step forward for this cub is a step toward securing a brighter future for red pandas in our care and in the wild.”
Himalaya, a young mom who gave birth just before her second birthday, originally welcomed a litter of two cubs in a nest box meant to replicate red pandas’ nests in the wild. While Himalaya was showing an attentive mom attitude and the cubs were initially nursing well, sadly, one of the cubs passed away in the weeks following birth.
Keepers monitored Himalaya and the remaining cub closely via closed circuit camera system. As days passed, it became apparent that the cub was declining. After thoughtful evaluation, consultation with other red panda experts and considering Himalaya’s youth and inexperience, the team determined that the cub’s chances of survival would be greater with additional support and hand-rearing.
Zoo leaders are ecstatic to say the cub is doing very well in the care of its hand-raising team, who have a 24/7 job of ensuring it’s healthy and properly fed.
Initially, the cub was fed every four hours by a veterinary team member who had to spend the night at the zoo to ensure round-the-clock care. As the cub grew, became stronger, and required less intensive care, select members of the animal care team have joined the hand-raising team to help give the vet team a much-needed break and support.
Red panda cubs are born with both their ears and eyes closed, and weigh around 3 to 4 ounces (a stick of butter weighs 4 ounces for comparison). They usually gain sight and hearing abilities when they are a month to two months old, just as this cub did.
Over the next few months, the cub will continue to be carefully hand-raised by the dedicated veterinary and animal care teams. The cub made its public debut on Sept. 4 and will continue to live behind the scenes as it continues to be raised by its care team, but the plan will be to have it spend its exercise time on view in the ambassador animal exercise/play area for the time being. The cub’s well-being remains the zoo’s top priority and viewing is not guaranteed and the hours the animal is on view may vary as the animal grows. When it is strong and healthy enough, they also hope to begin gradually introducing it to larger exhibit spaces.
Red pandas are currently considered endangered in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They are native to Asia, specifically the forests of Nepal, Bhutan and southern China. While they possess the digestive system of a carnivore, they are practically vegetarians, eating mostly leaves, bamboo and similar greenery.
