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A red panda cub born Monday morning at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden to first-time mom Marcy represents a significant milestone for the Zoo and the endangered species.  It’s the 100^th red panda baby born in Cincinnati since the breeding program started in the early 1980s.

“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 been a leader in red panda conservation and breeding for decades.  Scientists from the Zoo’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) have devoted years to studying red panda reproduction and have made discoveries that greatly contributed to the success of the breeding program.  In 2015, CREW was the first to accurately predict birth dates for two cubs, born six days apart, using a combination of ultrasonography and hormone monitoring.  Since red pandas are seasonal breeders and experience delayed implantation, having a due date is a great advantage for the keeper team.

The Cincinnati Zoo supports the efforts of the Red Panda Network to protect red pandas and their bamboo forests in the wild through the education and empowerment of local communities. Cincinnati Zoo staff members are also involved with AZA’s SAFE Red Panda program.

Red pandas are native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, where habitat loss, fragmentation, and other threats have contributed to declining wild populations. Accredited zoos, including the Cincinnati Zoo, play an important role in maintaining healthy, genetically diverse populations through conservation breeding programs.

“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 with Marcy for the coming weeks as it grows and develops. Be sure to follow @CincinnatiZoo on social media for developmental milestones and information on when visitors may catch a glimpse of the cub in the outdoor habitat. Zuko and the Zoo’s two other red pandas, Audra and Lenore, will be out during regular Zoo hours.

The Zoo opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. Members get Early Entry and are welcome to enter the Zoo at 9 a.m. Download the mobile app featuring a GPS-enabled digital map to find the red pandas, food locations, and to receive special announcements. You can even create your own itinerary!