‘The Panda Tails’ – Volume One

Welcome to our panda periodical; where we will keep you up to date with all the latest news about the progress of our brand new red panda twins.

Progress Report

It’s been panda-monium in the zoo following the birth of two panda puffs!

As with the giant panda, female red pandas are only fertile for just one day a year and can delay implantation until conditions are favourable.

Prior to the birth, Head Keeper, Mark Kenward noticed a slight change in behaviour from our female panda, Mulan. She had been adding nesting materials to the nest boxes, including straw and sycamore leaves. Her appetite had also dropped and she appeared lethargic. It soon became clear why…

Mulan gave birth to two healthy cubs on 16 June and the twins are making excellent progress, under the care of their first time mum.

At Drusillas, the red pandas have three separate nest boxes and Mulan will move the babies around from one to another, carrying them gently in her mouth.

For the first two days, Mulan remained with her cubs for 90% of her time, nursing the twins for 15 minutes per feed. However, on day three this dropped to around 60% which is the expected behaviour within this species. 

The cubs were born with pale fluffy fur, which darkens to the distinctive red coloration of the adults over the first three months.

At first the cubs eyes and ears are tightly closed, opening within the first 2-3 weeks. Our cubs opened their eyes on day 21 and are now exploring the den. Soon they will be taking their first steps outside.

Photo: Our beautiful bouncing boy                                            Photo: Our gorgeous girl 

Panda Particulars

Date of Birth: Monday 16 June 2014

Current Location: Nest Box 3 

Gender: one male and one female

First weight: 242g and 238g

Keeper Sound Bite

Head Keeper, Mark Kenward “I entered the panda enclosure and was immediately met by, Tibao, our male panda. Unable to see our female, Mulan, I called to her. She appeared from one of the nest boxes shortly after carrying a baby gently in her mouth. She brought the cub over, as if to show me, before returning to the box; I can’t explain how happy I was.”

“I am so proud of Mulan. She is a natural mum and has not put a foot wrong. It is as if she has grown up overnight. Tibao has less to do with the babies but he seems to have an extra spring in his step and has definitely grown in confidence.”