Rare red panda twins born at zoo weigh same as a banana

By James Connolly

Two tiny red panda cubs have been born at a zoo - weighing around the same weight as a banana.

The adorable six-week-old twins are still so young their eyes remain closed and they have yet to develop the distinctive fiery-red coats of their parents.

They were born overnight on July 16 at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to five-year-old mom Ruby and six-year-old dad Nilo.

The tiny pair weighed around 90g at birth - roughly the weight of a banana - but are growing bigger and stronger every day.

They currently spend their days snuggled inside the nestbox where they were born.

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They will take their first tentative steps outside at around three months old.

Amanda Robinson, primate section manager at Whipsnade Zoo, said: "We knew Ruby was pregnant from her behavior changes and weight gain, so we were absolutely delighted when these two healthy babies arrived back in July.

"We're keeping a close eye on the family while giving them space to bond and grow, and it's clear Ruby is an excellent mom and has been doing a brilliant job caring for her two little ones.

"The cubs are still very young and we won't know their sexes until their first health check with our veterinary team, at around ten weeks old. At that point, we'll also start thinking about naming the duo."

The births provide an important boost for red pandas, which are classed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

The animals are expert climbers and spend much of their time high in the forest canopy.

Their long, bushy tails help them balance while sharp claws and flexible ankles allow them to grip branches and even climb head-first down tree trunks.