Potter Park Zoo’s red panda, Maliha, gave birth to a cub on July 5, 2025. The cub is the fifth litter of mother Maliha and father Deagan-Reid as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP).
The animal care and veterinary teams have been closely monitoring the cub’s progress, and the newborn appears to be healthy and developing well. For now, the cub will remain in an off-exhibit den area with its mother to ensure proper bonding and care.
“We are fortunate that Maliha is a fantastic mother, and the cub is doing well,” said Pat Fountain, Animal Care Supervisor. “This successful birth is very important to this endangered species.”
Red panda newborns are born deaf, blind, and are small enough to fit into your palm. It takes over two weeks for cubs to open their eyes, and about two months before they begin venturing out of the nest. While Maliha and her cub will be off exhibit during this time, guests are welcome to visit Deagan-Reid in the red panda habitat.
Red pandas are native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China and are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Reasons for their endangered status include habitat loss, poaching, and fragmentation. This means they face a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Their population has declined significantly, with estimates suggesting a 50% decrease over the last 18 years. Potter Park Zoo actively participates in red panda conservation initiatives, both locally and internationally.
This news is a win for the conservation of the endangered species. Arriving from the Knoxville Zoo in 2021, Deagan-Reid was paired with Potter Park Zoo’s female Maliha by AZA’s red panda SSP, which pairs animals based on maintaining genetic diversity. With around 130 red pandas in AZA institutions, Maliha’s new cub is a valuable addition to the population.
Those interested in learning more can follow the zoo’s social media platforms and website for updates on the cub’s growth, name reveal, and eventual public debut, as well as visiting the Red Panda Network at www.redpandanetwork.org.
