Endangered Red Panda Born At San Diego Zoo

SAN DIEGO, CA — An endangered red panda was recently born at the San Diego Zoo.

The not-yet-named cub was born on June 9 to first-time parents Adira and Lucas. The cub is the first red panda born at the zoo since 2006.

Adira and her 1-month-old cub hit a new milestone last week when they entered the outdoor habitat in the zoo's Asian Passage. Over the past month, the pair had stayed secluded in their den, mostly eating and sleeping, with mom venturing out only sporadically.

"The birth of any animal is always an emotional experience, but for a species that hasn't conceived in so long, this moment is even more remarkable," said Erika Kohler, senior vice president and executive director of the San Diego Zoo. "Every birth carries so much weight, so this cub provides hope for everyone working to save this important Asian species."

Over the past 50 years, the global population of red pandas has dwindled by as much as 40 percent, according to the San Diego Zoo. The species is now listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Red pandas face a a number of threats, including habitat loss and degradation related to increased human encroachment and climate change.