Baby red pandas make their debut at SC zoo — and yes, they’re adorable. Take a look
Baby red pandas made their debut at a South Carolina zoo — and yes, they’re adorable.
The 2-month-old creatures have delighted Greenville Zoo workers, who couldn’t wait to show them off. The animals’ tiny claws, bushy tails and whiskered faces can be seen in video and photos that the wildlife park shared online.
“Do we really NEED four photos of baby pandas for this post? NO. Does it make us smile from ear to ear? YES,” the zoo wrote Aug. 23 as it introduced the cubs on Facebook.
The post left some social media users basking in the “cuteness overload,” while others wanted to see the furry creatures in person. The wildlife park said the red panda cubs are on exhibit at times, though they should soon should appear on a more regular basis.
“Guests can expect to see them out on exhibit in the next couple of weeks,” the zoo told McClatchy News in an Aug. 28 email. “They currently spend most of their time in their den box, but they are starting to get more independent and active.”
The cubs were born June 23 to mother Ahsa, who came to the wildlife park from Zoo Knoxville in Tennessee. She is known for having a “spunky personality and a proclivity for bananas and bamboo.”
The cubs’ father, Neo, previously lived at the Erie Zoo in Pennsylvania, officials said.
“Ahsa and Neo are first-time parents and are doing a wonderful job taking care of the cubs,” officials wrote.
The cubs — a boy and a girl — haven’t been named as of Aug. 28. But for now, the little animals have garnered fans through social media posts, including one that shows them getting their weights checked.
Red pandas are native to high mountains of Asia and can grow up to 17 pounds, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. The creatures are considered endangered in the wild, and the Greenville Zoo has participated in a red panda breeding program through the Associations of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan.
This story was originally published August 29, 2023 at 11:44 AM with the headline "Baby red pandas make their debut at SC zoo — and yes, they’re adorable. Take a look."
