Seoul Grand Park welcomes Korea's first naturally bred red pandas

Two tiny red panda cubs are quietly growing behind the scenes at Seoul Grand Park after becoming the first red pandas to be born through natural breeding in Korea, marking a milestone for the country's endangered species conservation efforts.

The zoo said Tuesday the cubs were born at about 10 a.m. on June 19 and have remained healthy under intensive care while being kept away from public view to ensure their well-being.

“Amid the ongoing crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, we are thrilled to announce the rare birth of these endangered red pandas,” said Park Jin-soon, head of Seoul Grand Park.

“We will ensure they receive the utmost care so they grow up healthy, while continuing our utmost efforts to advance species conservation and animal welfare at our zoo.” The birth follows years of preparation by animal care staff, who said meticulous habitat design, nutrition management and behavioral monitoring made the successful breeding possible.

Native to the high-altitude forests of the Himalayas, the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is the sole living member of the family Ailu ...