ZSL Whipsnade Zoo releases first pictures of new baby red pandas

Credit: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

The first photos of twin red pandas born at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in June have been released.

The baby red pandas, named Bert and Ernie after the Sesame Street characters, have been hiding away in their nesting boxes since they were born to mother, Tashi, on 30 June.

However, six-year-old Tashi has begun carrying the pair outside for short intervals.

Senior Keeper at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Stephen Perry said: “It’s been magical to see the baby red pandas out and about for the first time.

“Red pandas can be difficult to observe due to their shy and secretive nature, their nocturnal habits and the fact that they spend most of their time up trees. We never see much of their babies for the first couple of months of their lives but it’s worth the wait. They’re incredible and beautiful creatures, and a real visitor favourite.

Red pandas are classified as Vulnerable by IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species Credit: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Bert and Ernie are part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), a tool used by zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks across Europe to manage conservation breeding programmes.

Found mainly in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and southern China, it's believed their number have dropped by arond 40% in the past 50 years with only 10,000 left in the wild.