Two rare baby red pandas born at Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo has announced the birth of two endangered red panda cubs.
The baby pandas were born on Thursday after their mother, Sakura, delivered them in a nest box in the red panda house at the zoo.
Wildlife care staff are giving the mother and her babies time to bond without disturbance but are keeping an eye on them via camera, the zoo said in a news release Monday.
“We are so excited to welcome these endangered red panda cubs to the Toronto Zoo family,” Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong said. “While newborns are always exciting, it is also an extremely vulnerable time, especially for this species. We will continue to provide updates about their progress to our community.”
Red pandas are an endangered species native to southwestern China and the eastern Himalayas. They are endangered due to illegal hunting and habitat loss. Experts estimate that there are between 2,500 and 10,000 of the animals in the wild.
The zoo has noted in their news release that red pandas are a "difficult-to-breed” species due to pre-and-post-partum challenges.
Research has shown a high percentage of early pregnancy loss for this species, with 40 per cent of pregnancies being lost prior to birth, the zoo said. Red pandas also have low rates of offspring survival both in the wild and in human care. Recent studies have shown that as few as 40 per cent of cubs reach their first birthday.
“Safeguards have been put in place to try and minimize risk factors for these new cubs, but it will be some time before their future is secure,” the zoo said. “During this fragile developmental stage, Sakura and her cubs will not be visible in the red panda habitat.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. election results: NDP gains ground in latest release of mail-in ballot data
Elections BC released its first partial results of the final count in B.C.'s 2024 provincial election Saturday afternoon, and the data shows NDP candidates gaining in some tight races.
Ontario man tells police he harmed two family members, three found dead
Huntsville OPP and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) are conducting a homicide investigation after three individuals were found dead in a Huntsville neighbourhood Friday evening.
Trump refers to CNN's Anderson Cooper by a woman's first name
Former U.S. president Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to CNN anchor Anderson Cooper with a woman's first name in recent days as the Republican presidential nominee focuses his closing message on a hypermasculine appeal to men.
Lawsuit alleges Ontario man died after given 10 times prescribed dose in hospital
Angela Salvatore had been away from her father's hospital bedside for just over an hour when she says she got a frantic call from a nurse, pleading with her to calm him down.
15-year-old found dead in eastern Ontario, teen facing second-degree murder charge: OPP
Ontario Provincial Police say a 16-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder after a 15-year-old was found dead at a home in Perth, Ont. Friday afternoon.
Lizzo's Halloween costume draws inspiration from 'South Park' episode that referenced her and the weight-loss drug Ozempic
Lizzo has taken a rather silly reference to her on a recent 'South Park' episode and elevated it to a hilarious Halloween costume.
What we know about the Canadians busted in an international drug ring led by a former Olympic athlete
Canadian Ryan James Wedding finished in 24th place in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, but the snowboarder wouldn’t go on to improve his results in Torino four years later.
Ottawa journalist says claims that he is a Russian agent are 'fabricated'
A veteran Ottawa journalist is firing back against what he says are "entirely false" claims by a former Conservative cabinet minister that he acted as a Russian agent.
Israel's first open attack on Iran targets missile sites and apparently spares oil and nuclear ones
Israel attacked military targets in Iran with pre-dawn airstrikes Saturday in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired on Israel earlier this month. It was the first time Israel's military has openly attacked Iran.