West Midland Safari Park is excited to announce the birth of an endangered red panda cub – the first to be born at the tourist attraction in its history.
Keepers suspected that three-year-old Mei Lin, was due to give birth after seeing her settle into one of her nest boxes mid-June.
A few days later, on 16 June, keepers heard tiny squeaks coming from the box and noticed that Mei Lin was grooming something inside.
They have since spotted glimpses of a tiny red panda cub and were lucky enough to capture the cub on camera, when Mei Lin moved nest boxes.
Discovery Trail Keeper, Kyle Wingfield, said “This is both a hugely exciting, but also nerve-wracking time for us. It’s fantastic that Mei Lin and our male, Sanka, have successfully mated, after only being introduced just over a year ago. After a gestation period of four and a half months, the cub arrived, making it the first red panda cub we’ve ever had at the Park in our 50-year history. Whilst this is incredible news, it’s also important to remember that this is Mei Lin’s first time at being a mum and she is doing a great job so far, but it is still very early days.”
He continued, “Red pandas are listed as ‘endangered’ in the wild with fewer than ten thousand individuals left, making every birth that more important. Whilst things look promising so far, with Mei Lin showing all the right, maternal signs, we will continue to monitor her from a safe distance allowing her the space, privacy and time she needs, as she adapts to being a new mum.”
Although keepers will be watching the cub’s progress at a distance for now, when the cub is around three months old, they will perform a health check and will find out what sex it is.
It’s at this point where a name will be chosen for the cub, beginning with the letter ‘L’, as all animals born at the Park in 2023, have names beginning with this letter.
Mei Lin was the first red panda to arrive at the Park in August 2021 and was joined by male, Sanka, in March 2022 as part of an EEP (Eaza Ex-Situ Programme), which is a collaborative breeding programme between European zoos, aiming to conserve endangered species.
Red pandas are listed as ‘endangered’ by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), with wild populations decreasing, due to threats such as habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, caused by human activities.
Reports of red panda hunting, poaching and smuggling for the illegal wildlife trade are also worryingly on the rise.
The Park sponsors a forest guardian, through the Red Panda Network, who helps to monitor and protect the red pandas in their wild habitat.
The arrival of the Park’s first red panda cub is another milestone moment for the Park, following the announcement of the birth of its first Sumatran tiger cub last week, as well as a Grevy’s zebra foal, barasingha fawns and a lowland anoa calf, being born earlier in the year.
As both Mei Lin and Sanka are first-time parents, the Park is asking guests to be mindful of noise when visiting the Red Panda Retreat habitat.
Red pandas spend the first few months of their lives growing in their dens with their mothers, therefore it is unlikely that guests will be able to see the cub until it is about four months old, when it will start emerging to explore its new home.
Sanka can be seen on foot, in the Park’s walk-through Discovery Trail which is included in the admission charge and the best prices can be booked online in advance. Children under the age of three are free.
Adventure Theme Park rides are charged extra. Admission includes a Free Return to visit again within six months, only when booking online in advance.
Further information about West Midland Safari Park is available from the Park’s website www.wmsp.co.uk or by telephone 01299 402114. Find out more on the Safari Park’s official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WestMidSafari.
