Longleat has revealed that its newest red panda cub is a boy after keepers and a vet carried out his first health check.
The endangered cub, born earlier this year at the Wiltshire estate to experienced mother Emma and first-time father Koda, is now around two months old and reported to be doing well.
The health check also gave keepers their first opportunity to confirm the cub’s sex.
Samantha Peeke, Animal Adventure Keeper at Longleat, said: “Our gorgeous red panda cub is now two months old and is doing really well.
“We did our first health check with the vet to make sure the cub was healthy and we discovered we’ve got a little boy.”
The youngster has yet to be given a name, although Longleat hopes to announce one in the next couple of weeks.
The estate has released video footage giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the health check to mark International Red Panda Day on Saturday, 19 September.
The cub will continue to receive regular weigh-ins and health checks as he grows, allowing keepers to monitor his development and ensure he is thriving.
Red pandas are classified as an endangered species, with around 2,500 thought to remain in the wild. Habitat loss is one of the major threats facing the species.
Longleat participates in the European breeding programme, with births at the estate contributing to wider conservation efforts.
Samantha said the hope was that the new arrival would eventually play an important role in the future of the species.
“Any births we have contribute to the European Breeding Programme and we hope this little cub will go on to have a really important role in the future of the species,” she said.
Longleat will also be fundraising for the Red Panda Network at Monkey Temple, close to the estate’s other red pandas, Maya and Neo.
The Wiltshire attraction has supported the charity for several years, with money raised going towards its conservation work.
As the cub becomes more independent, keepers expect him to start venturing out and about more.
Visitors can see Emma, Koda and their new arrival from the Jungle Cruise Boat Safari.
Longleat tickets and further information are available from the estate’s website.
