CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is marking a major milestone with its newest arrival.
The zoo’s red panda Marcy gave birth Monday, June 22, marking the 100th red panda cub born in Cincinnati since the breeding program began in the 1980s.
Red pandas are an endangered species, native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, where habitat loss, fragmentation, and other threats have contributed to declining wild populations.
The Cincinnati Zoo welcomed its 100th red panda cub on Monday. (Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden)
“Marcy was actually pregnant with two cubs, but only one survived. That is not uncommon for multiples, but it is still sad for the team that would otherwise be celebrating this huge milestone,” said Cincinnati Zoo zoological manager Julie Grove. “We are thrilled that the surviving cub is doing well and has been observed nursing.”
The Cincinnati Zoo has worked on red panda conservation for decades through the Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW). In 2015, CREW accurately prdicted birth dates for two cubs, born six days apart using a combination of ultrasonography and hormone monitoring, the first team able to do so.
“Breeding recommendations are made by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). The SSP looks at the whole AZA population and makes pairing decisions based on genetics and program capacities,” said Grove. “They sent Marcy here last November to breed with Zuko, a three-year-old male that is now a first-time dad. He just missed Father’s Day!”
The cub will remain in the nest box for the coming weeks as it grows with Marcy, but the zoo said update would be shared on social media for when it may be spotted outdoors.
Madison MacArthur
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