On the evening of Thursday 25 June, an event as unassuming as it was emotional happened in the Chinese Middle Kingdom at Pairi Daiza: Loha, a young female Red panda, gave birth to two cubs.

For now, the caretakers are doing everything they can to help the family remain calm, peaceful, and undisturbed, as the first few days of a Red panda’s life are extremely vulnerable, both in the wild and in human care.

The newborns are the cubs of Loha, born at Berlin Zoo on 6 June 2020, and of Mohan, born at Pairi Daiza on 20 June 2021. The caretakers have previously briefly had the joy of witnessing a birth and new life with this pair, but sadly their first cubs did not survive the very first few days. This new litter is therefore being welcomed with great hope… and great caution.

The first few days: the most vulnerable

For the Red panda, birth is just the beginning of a long struggle. The cubs are born blind, are almost unable to move and are completely dependent on their mother for temperature regulation, feeding and protection. During the first two weeks, even the slightest complication, such as weakness at birth, breathing difficulties, trouble feeding or an infection, can, sadly, prove fatal.

At this stage, the zoological team adheres to a golden rule: intervening as little as possible. Loha must be able to raise her cubs in peace, without any disturbance. The caretakers and vets therefore monitor their development from a distance. The rare moments when the newborns can be seen occur when their mother carefully moves them from one nest to another, choosing from the three nesting sites available to her.

“These births are always very emotional moments. We grow very attached to the animals in our care, and the loss of previous cubs has deeply affected the whole team. This time too, we know that the battle is far from won. The first few days are crucial. We’re keeping a watchful eye on this little family from a distance and limiting our presence as much as possible, because right now, Loha is her two little ones’ best ally. We just hope that we’ll soon be able to share the good news with visitors that they’re growing up safely.” – Philippine Thiry, Red panda caretaker.

These two newborns represent a new generation within a close-knit family already living at Pairi Daiza.

In an adjacent habitat live Hui Hu and Himiko, Mohan’s parents. Visitors can therefore observe three generations of Red pandas in the park, which illustrates the vital role of modern zoos in the conservation of this endangered species.

Pairi Daiza is also committed to conserving their habitat in Nepal

With its magnificent coat and endearing appearance, the Red panda is often one of the visitors’ favourite animals. Yet the species’ situation is a cause for serious concern.

The Red panda, classified as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is now even more at risk of extinction than the famous Giant panda. It is estimated that fewer than 10,000 individuals remain in the wild.

The birth of these two cubs reminds us that the protection of animal species does not stop at the gates of zoos.

Since 2023, the Pairi Daiza Foundation has been supporting the Red Panda Network, a leading organisation dedicated to the conservation of the species in its natural habitat.

In collaboration with local communities, a large-scale project is being carried out in the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung region, in eastern Nepal, a crucial area that connects various forest areas in the Himalayas. The aim is to restore several hectares of forest in order to create an ecological corridor that is essential for the movement of Red pandas, as well as other iconic species such as the clouded leopard, the Asian golden cat and the Himalayan black bear.

To date, the Pairi Daiza Foundation has already allocated nearly 18,000 euros to support this nature conservation programme.

Today, two tiny Red panda cubs entered the world quietly at Pairi Daiza. If they survive the coming weeks, they will become an enormous source of hope for a species in which every birth counts just that little bit more than the last.