Two Red Panda Cubs Born at Pairi Daiza Zoo in Belgium
Pairi Daiza, one of Europe’s most acclaimed zoos, has announced the birth of two red panda cubs — a moment of cautious hope for an endangered species whose every birth carries outsized significance. The cubs were born on the evening of June 25 in the Chinese Middle Kingdom section of the park in Brugelette, Belgium, according to the zoo’s official announcement.
A Fragile Beginning
The newborns are the offspring of Loha, a female born at Berlin Zoo in June 2020, and Mohan, a male born at Pairi Daiza in June 2021. The same pair had previously given birth, but their first cubs did not survive the first few days — a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the species.
Red panda cubs are born blind, nearly immobile, and entirely dependent on their mother for warmth, feeding, and protection. The first two weeks are especially critical; any complication, including weakness at birth, respiratory issues, or infection, can prove fatal. The zoological team at Pairi Daiza is following a minimal-intervention protocol, monitoring the family from a distance through cameras while Loha has access to three nesting sites.
“These births are always very emotional moments,” said Philippine Thiry, the red panda caretaker at Pairi Daiza, in the zoo’s announcement. “We grow very attached to the animals in our care, and the loss of previous cubs has deeply affected the whole team. This time too, we know that the battle is far from won. The first few days are crucial.”
A Multi-Generational Family
Visitors to Pairi Daiza can observe three generations of red pandas in the park. Mohan’s parents — Hui Hu and Himiko — live in an adjacent habitat, offering a rare glimpse into the family dynamics of a species that is notoriously difficult to breed in captivity.
The births are part of coordinated global breeding programs managed through organizations such as the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), which aim to maintain genetic diversity in the captive red panda population.
Conservation Beyond the Zoo Gates
Red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) are classified as “Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with fewer than 10,000 individuals estimated to remain in the wild. The species is now considered more threatened than the giant panda, facing habitat loss due to agriculture, forestry, and road construction across its native range in the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China.
Pairi Daiza’s commitment to red panda conservation extends well beyond its enclosures. Since 2023, the Pairi Daiza Foundation has supported the Red Panda Network, a leading conservation organization working in Nepal. Approximately 18,000 euros have been allocated to restore about 90 hectares of forest habitat in the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung region of eastern Nepal — an area that hosts roughly 25 percent of the country’s red panda population.
The restoration project aims to create an ecological corridor that benefits not only red pandas but also other threatened species sharing the same habitat, including the clouded leopard, Asian golden cat, Bengal tiger, pangolin, and Himalayan black bear.
What to Watch For
The sex and names of the cubs have not yet been announced, and it remains uncertain when they will be visible to the public. The zoo team is focused on the critical first weeks, during which Loha’s maternal care will be the single most important factor in the cubs’ survival.
As La Libre Belgique reported, the story has generated widespread coverage across Belgian media, reflecting the public’s deep interest in conservation and animal welfare. For Pairi Daiza — which welcomed approximately 2.9 million visitors in 2025 — the cubs represent both an emotional milestone and a powerful reminder of the role modern zoos play in preserving the planet’s most vulnerable species.
If the cubs survive the coming weeks, they will become an enormous source of hope for a species in which, as the zoo put it, every birth counts just a little bit more than the last.