Two red panda cubs make first public appearance at Longleat
The 10-week-old red panda cubs have their faces to the public for the first time.
Ten weeks after they were born at Longleat, two red pandas have started taking a look at their surroundings.
The pair have begun to venture outside after being born in the summer to parents Emma and Lionel.
The twins, both suspected to be female, were part of a successful breeding programme for the endangered species at Wiltshire wildlife attraction.
They are yet to be named and the zookeepers need to do health checks to confirm the gender.
Zookeeper Sam Alworthy said: “Both cubs are doing really well, Emma is a great mum, and she has been looking after them fantastically.”
The species were confirmed “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature back in 2008.
Red pandas are increasingly under threat due to habitat loss, deforestation, and poaching. It is thought there may be as few as 2,500 living in the wild.
Red pandas usually live in warmer climates like Nepal, Bhutan, and China.
In addition to being part of the European Endangered Species Programme for the Red Panda, Longleat is also helping to fund habitat restoration and replanting programmes in Nepal.