Meet the Red Panda Cub Born at Our Conservation Campus

On June 22, carnivore keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s Front Royal, Virginia, campus celebrated the birth of an endangered red panda cub. In this Q&A, keeper Jessica Kordell shares the latest on the cub’s developments. 

What do we know about the cub? 

At the 8-week exam, we were able to sex the cub and learned she is female. Typically, we determine the sex of the cub earlier, but we were a little more hands off with this cub than we normally would be. Panda fans might notice the cub is a bit lighter in color than they might expect. Her fur will darken as she gets older and may reach her adult coloration by six months of age. 

How are the parents doing?  

Keahi, the dam, is a first-time mom. She is attentive and protective of her cub, which is everything she should be. Keahi still spends a fair amount of time with her; their time together still consists of the cub nursing and being groomed by mom. With the cub starting to venture out of the nest box on her own, Keahi is there to help her in and out of the nest box and “makes” her come back inside when she feels it’s time for the cub to eat and rest. 

The sire (father), Rocket, is doing well. He is not involved in rearing the cub whatsoever, so life hasn’t changed much for him. 

How long will the cub stay with Keahi? 

The cub will stay with her mom until spring or summer of next year. She still has some more milestones to hit, including climbing and perching all on her own and eating solid foods, such as bamboo. 

Speaking of bamboo, are red pandas related to giant pandas? 

Red pandas are the only living members of the Ailuridae family, meaning they are not related to giant pandas (Ursidae family).Although they are in their own family, their closest living relatives are racoons, skunks and weasels.  

If red pandas aren’t related to giant pandas, why do they share the name “panda”? 

The name “panda” is believed to come from the Nepali word “ponya,” which means “bamboo-eater.” This fits the red pandas because that is what they mostly eat! Like the giant panda, red pandas are primarily bamboo eaters, but they also eat fruits, roots, succulent grasses, acorns, lichens, bird’s eggs, insects and even small mammals.

Are red pandas as fuzzy as they look? 

Yes! Red pandas have a soft, dense wooly undercoat covered by long, coarse guard hairs. Their long, bushy tails help red pandas balance while climbing trees and protect them from harsh cold and winds. Their paws are also completely covered in dense fur. 

What do red pandas sound like? 

Red pandas are generally quiet, but will make vocalizations — such as squeals, twitters and whistles — which can be heard during breeding season. They may also huff-quack or grunt, and young cubs use a whistle, or high-pitched bleat, to signal distress. 

When are red pandas most active?  

Red pandas are primarily crepuscular, meaning they are the most active at dawn and dusk. They also tend to be more active in cooler weather, especially during the winter breeding season.  

Do red pandas hibernate? 

In extremely cold temperatures, red pandas can go into a “torpor.” They lower their metabolic rate and raise it every few hours as they wake up to look for food. Generally, neither Washington D.C. nor Front Royal, Virginia, where our red pandas live, become cold enough for this to happen. 

I want to help red pandas! What can I do? 

Reduce, reuse and recycle — in that order! Cut down on the demand for resources by consuming less. Buy only what you need, and look for pre-owned or repurposed items before purchasing something brand new. Find creative ways to reuse products at the end of their life cycle. Choose recycling over trash when possible. 

Planning a visit to the Zoo in Washington, D.C.? You can meet our red pandas, Asa and Chris-Anne, on Asia Trail! Pro tip: red pandas are most active at dawn and dusk. We recommend visiting them in the early morning or late afternoon, since they tend to take naps in the middle of the day.