1 hr ago
Sikkim Zoo Records Six Red Panda Births in One Year
The Himalayan Zoological Park in Sikkim had six red panda cubs born in one year.
This is the largest number of births there since its breeding program began in 1996.
Five of the cubs are still alive.
Zoo workers watched them carefully because baby red pandas are especially fragile during their first two months.
The cubs were kept away from visitors until officials were more confident about their survival.
The zoo now has 13 red pandas.
One cub is known to be male and another is known to be female.
The births are important because red pandas are endangered animals.
The Himalayan Zoological Park recorded six red panda births between June and July, its highest annual total since 1996.
Five of the six cubs survived, bringing the zoo’s red panda population to 13.
The cubs were closely monitored because the first two months have a reported survival rate of only 40% to 50%.
The zoo previously lost 12 red pandas to canine distemper between 2015 and 2017.
Officials have identified one surviving cub as male and one as female; the other three have not yet been sexed.
- Who
- The Himalayan Zoological Park, its staff and veterinarians, and six red panda cubs.
- What
- The zoo recorded six red panda births in a year, with five cubs surviving.
- Where
- The Himalayan Zoological Park at Bulbulay, about three kilometres from Gangtok, Sikkim.
- When
- The cubs were born between June and July; the breeding program began in 1996.
- Why
- The births are significant for the conservation of endangered red pandas and represent the zoo’s highest annual total.
Key facts
- Births
- Six red pandas were born between June and July.
- Surviving cubs
- Five of the six cubs survived.
- Current zoo population
- The park houses 13 red pandas.
- Breeding program
- The captive breeding program began in 1996.
- Earlier losses
- Twelve red pandas died from canine distemper between 2015 and 2017.
- Wild population in Sikkim
- Sikkim is estimated to have around 300 red pandas in the wild.
- Zoo location
- The park is at Bulbulay, around three kilometres from Gangtok and about 6,000 feet above sea level.
Quotes
Sangay Gyatso
Director of the Himalayan Zoological Park
“There were a total of six red pandas born in June and July this year under our captive breeding programme of red pandas and of them five managed to survive. This is a major achievement for us for the conservation of the endangered species, as this was the first time such a large number of pandas were born in a single year”
telegraphindia.com
“The first two months after the birth of the pandas are considered the ‘most critical period’ for their survival, as the survival rate is merely 40 to 50 per cent. Keeping this in view, we kept the animals under close vigil of the vets and some of our dedicated staff and finally disclosed their birth on Saturday”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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