Zoo celebrates first red panda cub in 25 years; watch | Biodiversity

The little red panda does not have a name yet, and it will be presented to the public only in the spring (autumn in the northern hemisphere), when the weather becomes milder. Canada, such as the United States, Europe, Asia, Facing extreme heat waves during the current summer.

Paprika arrived at the zoo in November 2021, amid a breeding plan. It has since been considered a potential companion to the red panda Suva. The conservation status of the red panda was raised to “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation and Nature in 2015.

Watch the video of the mother with her newborn below:

“Paprika was very calm when I separated from him momentarily, and took the opportunity to stretch and get ready before returning to the nest to bathe and care for her young,” the zoo said.

Celebrating the arrival of the new red panda in Toronto comes as the species is considered a difficult to study in the wild, where it hides easily due to its ability to climb trees and its small size. The animal population, originally from Asia, is estimated to be between 2,500 and 10,000 individuals in the world, with a potential decline of up to 50% in the past 20 years.

Although they are related to bears, the red panda is the inheritors of cats in terms of DNA, and has no genetic link to its black and white furry cousins. Their carnivorous teeth, designed to cut and tear, are similar to those of felines, revealing Smithsonian Magazine.

For this reason, this species is considered carnivorous, but it is rare for the red panda to feed on the meat of another animal, preferring to eat bamboo (the name “panda” probably comes from the Nepalese pronunciation of the word “bamboo eater” – ” nigalya bunya”). They can also eat eggs, fruits, and insects.