The Lincoln Children's Zoo in Nebraska announced the arrival of three red panda cubs on Thursday, born on August 10, marking a major success for the zoo's conservation program.
The triplets—two males and one female—were born to third-time mom Tián and second-time dad Rowan. Though the cubs have yet to be named, their healthy birth represents a happy moment in efforts to conserve the endangered red panda species.
"Red pandas are the smaller cousins of giant pandas—they're not raccoons," Ruth Marcec-Greaves, the zoo's general curator, told Newsweek.
Native to high-altitude temperate forests across the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, red pandas face increasing threats from habitat destruction and climate change, which are reducing their cold, bamboo-rich forest homes.
"Their habitat is slowly diminishing and the change in climate is definitely threatening them," Marcec-Greaves added.
The Lincoln Children's Zoo, which is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan Program, has carefully crafted an environment that allows Tián to raise her cubs naturally.
Zookeepers provided six nest boxes lined with bamboo and wood wool, mimicking the tree hollows or rock crevices a red panda mother would typically use.
Red pandas are known to be vigilant and adaptive mothers, often moving their cubs to different nests for protection or when facing stressors.
In this secure setting, Tián has chosen her preferred nest box and has been diligently caring for the cubs, who are now 3 months old and beginning to explore their environment by learning to climb.
While triplet red panda births are not uncommon, the survival of all three triplets is a noteworthy achievement, attributed to Tián's attentive care.
"We're very, very excited in this case that our mother was just such a good mother. She successfully raised all three of these without any help," Marcec-Greaves said.
As a species classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, red pandas are at high risk of extinction, with populations in the wild halving over the past 20 years because of ongoing threats such as habitat loss.
"The birth of these triplets is important for animal conservation efforts, and the red pandas at the Zoo help to raise awareness of the threats their counterparts face in the wild," Evan Killeen, CEO of Lincoln Children's Zoo, said in a statement.
While the cubs are not yet on public display, the zoo expects to debut them by December. In the meantime, zoo staff hope these new additions will inspire a new generation of conservationists.
"Where else are you going to see a red panda? Not everyone can get to the Himalayas to see them in the wild," Marcec-Greaves said. "In a zoo where we can tell you about them, tell you about their lives, and you can see them playing together, that's a huge, huge help to their conservation."
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about koala bears? Let us know via [email protected]
Related Articles
- Resurfaced Clip of Red Panda's Reaction to a Stone Has Internet in Stitches
- Red Pandas Are Two Separate Species, Study Finds
- Rare Red Panda Cub Fighting for Life in California Zoo After Mother Started Neglecting Tiny Offspring
- Red Panda Escapes California Zoo, Setting Off Three-Day Search