A red panda on the verge of extinction gave birth to a miraculous cub just months after the death of her mate.
Tilly gave birth to a healthy cub at Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire on July 16, one of the hottest days in British history, for the first time in eight years.
The miraculous moment of the cub’s birth was filmed by the zoo’s CCTV cameras. The cub is now being referred to as “little red” until they have their initial health tests by the vet in the coming months, which will also confirm their gender.
The birth followed the tragic loss of Tilly’s partner and ‘little red’ Nam Pang’s father in June, establishing a lasting legacy in his honour.
The couple was a member of the international breeding programme at the zoo, but they had been unable to conceive for the last four years.
Fans of the duo have written Tilly words of support, love, and worry for her well-being from across the globe.
Red pandas are solitary by nature, but the zookeepers wanted to ensure that she remained comfortable and content following the death of her mate.
Two weeks after his death, keepers observed while observing her attentively that she had started nesting in preparation for the future offspring.
During morning inspections, Tilly’s caretakers discovered a little fuzzy creature lying next to her in the nest box.
Six months old, the cub is still quite delicate, but it is developing well.
Two to three months after birth, red panda babies begin to leave the nest for the first time.
Her loving followers continue to see Tilly enjoying the weather and people-watching around the Zoo.
Aaron Whitnall, star of the CBBC show One Zoo Three and Operations Coordinator at the zoo, said: ‘This cub has become a symbol of hope, after the tragic passing of Nam Pang, for his memory and legacy to live on, is more than we ever expected.’
The Hertfordshire zoo participates in the European Ex-Situ Breeding Program to aid in the creation of a safety net for wild endangered animals.
Less than 2,500 red pandas survive in the wild, according to the IUCN Red List, which classifies them as an endangered species.
The creatures are in grave danger because of deforestation and the illegal pet trade.
The zoo collaborates closely with the Red Panda Network to aid in the conservation of this species.
Next Tuesday (August 23), Paradise Wildlife Park will continue to broadcast exciting details about Tilly and her “little red” cub through their website, social media outlets, and a live red panda webcam.