Red Panda Cubs Get Their Third Checkup

The Newest, Cutest Baby Animals from the World's Zoos & Aquariums

Sort by Species / Zoo

Red Panda Cubs Get Their Third Checkup

August 12, 2018

Woodland Park Zoo’s veterinary team recently performed a third neonatal exam on the zoo’s twin Red Panda cubs. The 5-week-old female cubs, born on June 19, have opened their eyes and weigh just under two pounds each. At birth, they weighed about five ounces each. The parents of the cubs are two-year-old mom Hazel and 13-year-old dad Yukiko.

Photo Credit: John Loughlin/Woodland Park Zoo

We first introduced the twins on ZooBorns shortly after their second neonatal exam last month.

As a first-time mom, Hazel continues to provide attentive care in an indoor, climate-controlled den where she can nurse and bond with her cubs in a quiet environment; the den is off view to zoo guests. Yukiko does not yet have contact with his new family, but introductions will be planned in the near future.

The zoo anticipates putting Hazel and her cubs in their exhibit habitat by mid-October and the community will be invited to participate in a public naming later this summer.

Red Pandas share a name with Giant Pandas, but recent studies suggest they are closely related to Skunks, Weasels and Raccoons. An endangered species, fewer than 10,000 Red Pandas remain in their native habitat of bamboo forests in China, the Himalayas, and Myanmar. They share part of their range with Giant Pandas. Their numbers are declining due to deforestation, increased agriculture and cattle grazing, and continuing pressure from growing human populations.

Woodland Park Zoo supports the Red Panda Network, whose multi-prong approach aims to conserve this flagship species in Nepal.

2 responses to “Red Panda Cubs Get Their Third Checkup”

Michael

August 13, 2018

This is a quibble, I admit, but I think the zoo is misusing the word “neonatal.” It means newborn. How can anything 5 weeks old still be referred to as newborn? To my mind, almost by definition, there can only be ONE neonatal exam — after that, the animal isn’t newborn anymore.
With that said, you gotta love red pandas. What cuties. Probably the best character in Kung Fu Panda, too. Dustin Hoffman, perpetually frustrated/aggravated.

Loading…

Reply
Max

August 15, 2018

Hi Michael, I am not a zoologist or anything but your question intrigued me as a fellow red panda fan. As I understand it, ‘neonatal’ technically means “relating to newborn children or mammals.” A newborn simply means “recently or just born.” So while newborn could mean “just born,” it doesn’t necessarily only refer to that. I agree a 5 week only would not necessarily be considered just born.
As an example, a patient in a neonatal ICU is said to have neonatal exams performed on it for however long they are there, which could be several weeks after birth. Therefore, there can be and are multiple neonatal exams after the first one takes place. So, a mammal human or otherwise can still be considered a newborn as long as it’s within the period of “recently born,” which is up to the discretion of the speaker. I hope this is at least a little useful or interesting.
Signed, a fellow Zooborns and grammar minutiae fan.

Loading…

Reply