Two red panda cubs have made a surprise debut at Exmoor Zoo in Devon, born to parents Shifumi and Pan on June 8. Though their arrival went unnoticed for the first eight weeks, the zoo has since confirmed the twins’ birth.
Shifumi and Pan, both former residents of Bristol Zoo, relocated to Exmoor after Bristol Zoo announced its closure. According to zoo staff, witnessing and caring for the birth of the red panda twins has been a special experience. “It’s one of the most rewarding aspects of being a zoo keeper,” said a spokesperson.
Although the couple’s sneaky behavior during breeding season in March had caught the attention of the keepers, the cubs’ arrival still came as a shock. One keeper admitted, “It was a complete surprise. After last year’s phantom pregnancy, we all thought it was happening again—until we heard the tiny squeaks coming from the maternal den.”
The zoo confirmed that the cubs will stay with their parents for now, but in time, they’ll need to seek their own territory, as they would in the wild. For now, though, the Exmoor Zoo team is thrilled to care for these rare and precious new arrivals.