PERTH Zoo’s new Nepalese red panda cub was on display today for its first health check – and it passed the cuteness test with flying colours.
The two-month-old cub was born to nine-year-old mother Anusha and six-year-old father Makula.
Keeper Marty Boland said the little one passed its first health check.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“Today our veterinarians gave our furry new arrival a quick health check of its body condition, eyes, teeth, ears and weight,” he said.
The red panda cub is expected to emerge from the nest box in April.
However, the news was overshadowed with news of six red pandas being rescued from animal traffickers trying to smuggle the bears across international borders.
A group of conservation organisations worked together on the rescue near the border of Laos and China, however only three of the six bears survived their first night after being rescued.
“The recent rescue in Laos highlights how vital coordinated zoo breeding programs are for the survival of this endangered species,” Mr Boland said.
“The Perth Zoo team is also consulting with Free the Bears, providing advice on appropriate diets and how to reduce heat stress for the rescued pandas.”
Anyone interested in helping red pandas are encouraged to donate to the zoo’s Wildlife Conservation Action program, which supports organisations including Free the Bears and TRAFFIC, helping protect animals beyond the zoo’s borders.
Click here for information.
MORE: Francis John Wark guilty of murdering Hayley Dodd
MORE: Perth crowd ‘blown away’ as Optus Stadium opens to the public
MORE: 10 years since the death of Perth movie star Heath Ledger