An endangered red panda at a British zoo has given birth to a ‘miracle’ cub just one month after her partner passed away. Little Red was born at Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, to mother Tilly on July 16.
The cub’s father, Nam Pang, who was one of the park’s most iconic residents, died in June. His death left keepers and fans devastated, but zoo staff say the incredible birth of Little Red has created a “lasting legacy in his honour”.
The incredible moment the healthy cub was born was caught on CCTV in the early hours of one of the hottest days in UK history. 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, when the gender will be revealed.
Tilly and Nam Pang were part of the international breeding program, but they had not successfully conceived in the past four years of being together before Nam Pang died. Fans of the furry couple from across the world have been sending messages of support, asking how Tilly has been coping since her partner passed away.
While red pandas are naturally solitary animals, often only coming together during mating season, keepers have been keeping an eye on Tilly to make sure she is happy and comfortable being on her own since Nam Pang died. While watching Tilly closely, keepers noticed that just two weeks after his passing, she had begun to nest.
It was during morning checks on July 16 that keepers noticed a tiny furry bundle curled up next to Tilly in her nest box. While Little Red is still very vulnerable until the age of six months, zoo staff say the cub is growing well and will not venture out of the nest for around two or three months after birth, even though Tilly has been out and about enjoying the sunshine.
Aaron Whitnall, the star of CBBC show One Zoo Three and operations coordinator at the wildlife park, said Little Red’s miracle birth has been made even more poignant and heartbreaking following the death of father Nam Pang.
He said: “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 birth of ‘little red’ creates a beautiful ending for a tragic heartbreaking story that shocked the community in the month of June.”
The Hertfordshire zoo is part of the European Ex-Situ Breeding Program 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 around less than 2,500 remaining in the wild.
They are highly threatened due to deforestation and illegal pet trade and the zoo works closely with the Red Panda Network to help conserve this species.
Paradise Wildlife Park will continue to share adorable updates on Tilly and Little Red’s progress on their social media channels.
