The twins are the fourth litter for Miu and Justin. Their reproduce rate shows that they obviously feel at home at Hellabrunn Zoo. News of the fourth litter, welcoming baby number four and five, was received with great delight. The brothers born in July underwent a health check today. They weigh 0.85 and 1 kg.
During the health check by Dr Christine Gohl, Head Veterinarian at Hellabrunn Zoo, assisted by the zookeepers, mum Miu and dad Justin disappeared up their tree and observed the medical procedure in the enclosure from a safe distance. The two cubs were - understandably - less than happy with the brief health check and showed how strong they had already become. But after a few minutes it was all over and both were able to cuddle together again in their den, to which Miu also returned a short time later. Male red pandas do not participate in the rearing of their young, but do not have to be separated from mother and cub.
Red panda cubs spend the first two to three months in the birthing den before venturing out for the first time. Mum Miu, on the other hand, was back to her normal routine of spending much of her time in trees just a few days after the birth. "For red pandas, the mother is not constantly in the den but returns several times a day to check on her cub," explains Carsten Zehrer, curator and head of zoology at Hellabrunn Zoo. "We assume that, as with the previous births, Miu will bring both cubs to the back of the enclosure in the coming days and encourage them to venture out for the first time." Visitors can therefore look forward to witnessing the cubs make their first steps.
Rasem Baban, zoological director of Hellabrunn Zoo, is also delighted about the birth of the twins: "Hellabrunn supports the Red Panda Network conservation project in its efforts to preserve the red pandas in their natural habitat. The aim of this project is to create a contiguous protected area in the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung region. This is deemed necessary because the red panda is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with only about 10,000 individuals left in the wild. We are glad that we can once again welcome a healthy litter at Hellabrunn Zoo and show our visitors how important and urgent the conservation measures for the red pandas are.”
Opening times in autumn and winter:
Until 29 October 2022, 9 am - 6 pm daily
From 30 October 2022, 9 am - 5 pm daily