Panda-monium: 3 new red panda cubs at Fota
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Fota Wildlife Park has announced the birth of three critically endangered red panda cubs who were born on 9 June to mother Laxmi and father Grga. Photo: Darragh KaneImage 2 of 2
The red panda subspecies, fulgens, is critically endangered, with an estimated 2,500 remaining in the wild. Photo: Darragh KaneMarguerite Kiely
Fota Wildlife Park unveiled the newest adorable additions to its family last week - three charming red panda cubs.
Born to mother Laxmi and father Grga on 9 June, the trio - one male and two females - have been snuggled up in their nesting box in the Asian Sanctuary at Fota. Under the nurturing care of their mother, they have been spending their days sleeping, feeding, and being nursed.
In the coming weeks, the curious cubs will begin to explore the outside world, making brief appearances under the watchful eye of Laxmi during early mornings or late evenings.
The cubs' mother, arrived at Fota Wildlife Park from Longleat in England in July 2019, while their father Grga came from Zagreb Zoo in Croatia in June of the same year. The Asian Sanctuary at Fota Wildlife Park is now home to seven red pandas.
They have long, soft brownish fur with striking black and white markings and piercing black eyes. Their primary diet consists of bamboo and Fota Wildlife Park feeds its pandas with bamboo grown within the park.
The red panda subspecies, fulgens, is critically endangered, with an estimated 2,500 remaining in the wild. Over the last two decades, their numbers have seen a 50% decrease.
Fota supports the Red Panda Forest Guardian Project in Nepal, contributing to the conservation of red pandas in their natural habitat.
Speaking about the three panada cubs, Julien Fonteneau, Lead Ranger, said: "We are delighted to announce the birth of three panda cubs at Fota Wildlife Park. The slightly paler colored cubs, shy for now, will soon start learning how to climb trees!"
The public has been invited to name the three baby pandas through their blog page on fotawildlife.ie/blog. In return, participants have the chance to win one of three yearlong conservation passes to the park.
The arrival of the red panda cubs adds to the roster of recent births at Fota Wildlife Park, including cheetah cubs, baby ring-tailed lemurs, baby black and white colobus monkeys, a bison, and a giraffe calf.
For the month of August, a series of interactive events are taking place at Fota, celebrating 40 years of Fota Wildlife Park. The summer schedule also includes daily wildlife talks and feeding times.