It's A Boy!

Photo Courtesy of M.J. Grippin Photography

Binghamton Zoo has a baby red panda! Zhin-Li ("treasure") was born on June 18, 2013, to parents Mei-Li and Xiao-Li. He weighed 160 grams when he was born. He had fur, but his eyes were closed. Over the last few weeks, his eyes have opened, his fur has turned a reddish-brown color, and he has gained 800 grams! That means that in 37 days, he gained 600% of his body weight. If that happened to me, I would weigh 720 pounds by September 1.

On Thursday, July 25th, Binghamton Zoo held a press conference to announce Zhin-Li's birth. County Executive Debbie Preston proclaimed August to be Binghamton Zoo Month and Director Steve Contento announced the birth of the baby. However, when Curator Dave Orndorff tried to show the baby to the press, Mei-Li decided that this would be an excellent time to nurse and protect her baby boy. Dave was eventually able to coax Mei-Li away from the nest box with apples and bring the baby outside. At just over a month old, Zhin-Li is already feisty: he barked angrily when Dave picked him up to weigh him.

Mei-Li has been an excellent mother. Because she is a first-time mom, we were worried about her ability to raise the baby on her own, but she has succeeded with flying colors. Red pandas typically breed in January or February and give birth in June or July. Mei-Li had been gaining weight and spending lots of time in her two nest boxes, so we were keeping our fingers crossed, but we were not positive that she was even pregnant. Additionally, red panda gestation can last from 96 to 156 days, so we weren't sure when Mei-Li would give birth if she was pregnant. Zhin-Li was actually born outside in the exhibit around 11am and was found when a keeper went to feed Mei-Li her lunch.

Zhin-Li is weighed once a week, and has been steadily gaining weight by nursing constantly. Around six weeks old, red panda cubs typically weigh about 685 grams, so Zhin-Li is already chunky at 960 grams! Mei-Li will probably keep him inside until he is weaned--generally around three months after birth. When he is weaned, he will begin eating leafeater biscuits, grapes, apples, and bamboo, just like his parents. In the meantime, we have installed a camera in front of the nest box, so visitors can watch the baby on a monitor in front of the exhibit.

I have a special interest in this birth because I train Xiao-Li, Zhin-Li's father. Xiao is trained to target to a ball on a stick, stand on his hind legs, stand on a scale, and receive vaccinations. This training simplifies the keepers' and veterinarians' jobs. When Zhin-Li is weaned, he will also be trained to do various behaviors for food rewards.

This birth is very exciting for a number of reasons: it proves that our red pandas are comfortable enough in their exhibit to breed; it boosts the number of visitors through the zoo's gate and increases revenue; and it is a boon for conservation programs. Red pandas are classified as a "vulnerable" species on the IUCN Red List and there are only about 10,000 individuals left in the wild due to habitat destruction and hunting. Red pandas are part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP) that monitors and controls captive breeding in AZA Zoos, like the Binghamton Zoo. Zhin-Li's birth proves that Mei-Li is a good mother and will be able to raise other cubs in the future. Zhin-Li will also become part of the SSP and produce cubs of his own to help preserve red pandas in captivity.

We can't wait to see this baby grow up! Keep an eye out on my blog for video footage of Zhin-Li going outside for the first time.