Potter Park Zoo is delighted to announce the birth of a red panda cub, born to mom Maliha on June 19, 2024. This marks Maliha’s third successful litter with Degan-Reid, the cub’s father. Under the careful watch of our dedicated animal care staff, Maliha and her cub are monitored daily through a nest box camera. Both veterinary and animal care teams will continue regular wellness checks in the coming weeks to ensure the cub’s healthy growth and development. During the initial exam, the cub weighed 185 grams and has been actively nursing throughout the day. The veterinary team will conduct another exam in the coming weeks to determine the cub’s sex.
“Maliha is doing wonderfully as a mother. She’s very attentive and has been caring for the newborn with great dedication. The cub is actively nursing and growing well,” said Annie Marcum, the carnivore area lead keeper at Potter Park Zoo.
This birth is a milestone for Potter Park Zoo and a significant achievement in the conservation efforts for this endangered species. Degan-Reid, who arrived from the Knoxville Zoo in 2021, was paired with Maliha by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Red Panda Species Survival Program. This program strategically pairs animals to maintain genetic diversity within the captive population. With fewer than 205 red pandas in AZA institutions, Maliha’s new cub is a valuable addition to the population.
Native to the lush, temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, the red panda is elusive. They are classified as endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. Distinctive for their vibrant reddish-brown fur and striking facial markings, red pandas also possess a unique feature: a false thumb. This extended wrist bone helps them grasp bamboo, their primary food source. This, coupled with their bushy ringed tails and “masked” faces, makes the red panda one of nature’s unique creations.
Red panda newborns are born deaf, blind, and tiny. It takes over two weeks for the cubs to open their eyes, and about two months before they start exploring outside the nest. While Maliha and her cub will remain off-exhibit during this critical period, updates from the animal care team will be shared on Potter Park Zoo’s social media platforms. Guests are encouraged to visit Degan-Reid on exhibit to learn more about red pandas.
