Newspaper Clippings
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6
Zoo welcomes rare red pandas
Published: Thursday, June 19th 2008.
By Kevin Crush, Sun Media.
Edmonton is apparently a good love nest for rare red pandas.
Two more cubs – Tai and Pip – have been born at the Valley Zoo, following the two born there last year. Of only 45 red pandas in captivity in North America, four have now been born right here.
“We hope we’re looking after them right. Just the fact we’re having babies means we’re doing something right,” said Valley Zoo animal health technologist Sandy Heiliker. “We have a good diet (and) a good habitat for them.”
Tai and Pip were born May 26 to Lala, who also gave birth to twins last year. At birth, Tai was 147 grams and Pip was 112 grams. Their weights actually led to their names, with Heiliker’s daughter dubbing the smaller twin “Pipsqueak” later shortened to Pip. Tai, the larger twin, is Chinese for “Big.”
Tai and Pip’s birth is seen as a major success for an endangered species. With only 2,000 to 5,000 left in the wild, they live in China, Myanmar, India, Nepal and Japan. They have faced habitat destruction in India, and political unrest in Nepal. It’s not yet clear the impact of China’s recent earthquake and Myanmar’s cyclone have done to their numbers.
That’s why programs like the Red Panda Species Survival Plan are so important, said Heiliker.
If it helps increase their numbers and genetic diversity, it can only help the species, she said.
With four cubs in two years, the Valley Zoo is making a major contribution. Last year, of four red panda cubs born in North America, all four were born in Canada. Only one other cub has been born in captivity this year – in Cincinnati.
Zookeepers had to take Tai and Pip away from their mother shortly after birth. Lala was being so aggressive at holding and grooming one of the cubs that she endangered its life.
“I think she was trying to be too good a mom,” said Heiliker.
Heiliker’s own home has had to become the adopted home for the red pandas.
At first, she had to feed them with a stomach tube eight times a day. Now she has them on a puppy nursing bottle and only has to feed them six times a day.
It can be a hassle, but having red pandas at home is a special opportunity, said Heiliker.
It’s not clear when the red pandas will be able to come back to the zoo for public display. As of today, they were just starting to open their eyes.
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6
