Red Panda Twins Born at Safari Park in Major Conservation Milestone
Twin red panda cubs have been born at West Midlands Safari Park, marking a significant moment for the endangered species, according to keepers.
Staff first suspected that mother Mei Lin had given birth to twins on 16 June, when squeaking sounds were heard coming from a nest box. A few days later, their suspicions were confirmed when Mei Lin was seen moving one cub to a different nest box before returning for the second.
Amy Sewell, head keeper at the Worcestershire-based park, said the team was “absolutely thrilled” by the births, calling them “incredibly special” not only for the park, but for global red panda conservation efforts.
โWith fewer than 10,000 red pandas believed to remain in the wild, every successful birth is vital to securing the speciesโ future,โ she said. โAlthough itโs still early days, we look forward to sharing their journey with our visitors as they grow.โ
For the next few weeks, keepers will monitor Mei Lin and her cubs from a distance to allow her time to adjust to motherhood. The cubsโ sex wonโt be known until they are around 16 weeks old and begin exploring outside the nest boxesโat which point names will be chosen.
One park visitor, Mari Mascarenhas from Perth, Western Australia, described seeing the cubs as โtruly magical.โ She said, โNot only did we get to see the red pandas, but we also caught a glimpse of the new cubs. It was an unforgettable experience.โ
The red panda births are part of what keepers describe as a โbaby boomโ year for the safari park, which has also welcomed tiger cub triplets, lion cub triplets, an Indian rhino calf, a barasingha fawn, and blesbok calves.