Red Panda Twins Born at Planckendael Zoo in Belgium
Twin red panda cubs have been born at ZOO Planckendael in Muizen near Mechelen, Belgium, marking a significant moment for the conservation of the endangered species. Mother Amber, who gave birth to the twins at the end of July, was discovered by caretakers on camera footage as she carefully moved her young one by one to a different nesting room, according to VRT NWS.
The birth came as a pleasant surprise to the zoo’s team, who had been waiting anxiously for the arrival. “Amber gave birth quite late this year. We were slowly starting to think it might not happen after all,” caretaker Dieter told VRT NWS. “And then you suddenly see her on the camera images with her young. That is really a fantastic feeling.”
A Special Birth for an Endangered Species
Red pandas are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, with only about 10,000 surviving in the wild. The species faces significant pressure from deforestation, habitat fragmentation, poaching for their soft fur, and the effects of climate change in their native bamboo forests of the Himalayas in Nepal, Bhutan, and China.
The birth at Planckendael is particularly notable because it is the second consecutive year Amber has produced a litter, following her 2025 offspring. Before that, the zoo’s previous red panda birth was in 2021, when the cubs had to be euthanized because their mother could not care for them.
According to the ZOO Planckendael press release, the cubs were born blind and deaf, fully dependent on their mother’s care for their first weeks of life. Amber has proven to be an exemplary mother, moving her young between nesting sites to spread scent and mislead potential predators.
“Amber is an exemplary mother,” said caretaker Imke. “She carries her young from nest to nest and keeps a close eye on everything. When she gets food, she usually takes something along.”
The Challenges of Red Panda Breeding
Red panda breeding presents unique challenges for zoo caretakers. As caretaker Imke explained, “After fertilization, the red panda can delay the implantation of the egg for up to 3 months,” making gestation periods highly variable and difficult to predict.
A female red panda is only receptive to mating for a remarkably brief window of 18 to 24 hours each year, as Radio Reflex reported. This makes every successful birth particularly meaningful for the species’ conservation.
Caretaker Dieter described the moment they spotted the new arrivals: “We were also lucky this year that we could see the young nicely on camera when Amber moved them. She carefully takes them one by one by the scruff of the neck and chooses herself where she finds her young safest.”
Conservation Beyond the Zoo Walls
The birth contributes to the European Ex-situ Programme (EEP) for red pandas, which monitors genetic diversity across European zoos and supports educational and scientific initiatives. But Planckendael’s commitment to red panda conservation extends far beyond its own enclosures.
The zoo has supported the Red Panda Forest Guardians Project in Nepal for nearly a decade, funding the training of local forest guardians who patrol against poachers, monitor populations, and raise awareness among local communities. As EOS Wetenschap reported, the results have been tangible: 33 Forest Guardians trained, 338 kilometers of territory protected against poaching, and various restoration projects initiated.
“Our support has already yielded concrete results,” said Sarah Lafaut, curator of mammals at ZOO Antwerpen and ZOO Planckendael. “33 Forest Guardians could be trained, an area of 338 kilometers was protected against poaching, and various restoration projects were started. Training in sustainable beekeeping or reforestation is also financed with it.”
What’s Next for the Cubs
The twin cubs, now approximately four weeks old, are beginning to peek out from their nesting box. Around six weeks of age, veterinarian Jonas will perform a medical check-up, during which the cubs will be chipped, vaccinated, and their sex determined. At around two months, they will be able to crawl outside independently, and by five months they will transition from mother’s milk to solid food.
The cubs will receive their names at a later date, following Planckendael’s tradition that all names this year must begin with the letter B.
As Antwerps Persbureau noted, visitors to the zoo may already catch a glimpse of Amber with her young, and in the coming weeks, the two small red pandas will increasingly venture out of their nesting area.
The birth represents more than just a heartwarming zoo announcement—it is a vital contribution to the survival of a species whose wild population has declined by approximately 50% over the past two decades. As the cubs grow and eventually join the European breeding program, they will play their part in ensuring that red pandas continue to thrive both in zoos and, hopefully, in their natural habitat.