Zoo Boise, a division of Boise Parks and Recreation, is happy to announce the birth of a red panda cub this summer. The female cub, named Spring, was born in June to parents Dolly and Winston. This is the couple’s fifth litter.
Like red pandas in the wild, baby Spring has been spending her first weeks in the den with her mother. As she continues to grow and develop over the next few months, she will slowly begin to emerge from the den to explore the exhibit. Visitors to the zoo may be able to catch glimpses of the cub as she begins to spend more time outside.
As she did with her previous litters, Dolly has been doing a fantastic job of caring for the cub. Zoo Boise staff members have been giving Dolly as much privacy as possible, to ensure that she does not become stressed and continues to take excellent care of her new baby. Weekly check-ups by zoo staff have shown that Spring is healthy and growing.
This red panda birth is very exciting and significant for Zoo Boise. The cub’s parents, Dolly and Winston, have been matched as part of the Red Panda Species Survival Program (SSP). The SSP is one of the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s many conservation programs. Its primary role is to serve as a breeding program for selected endangered or threatened species – a special animal dating service, if you will. The goal is to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population for these animals in order to increase their numbers and be able to reintroduce certain zoo-bred animals into their natural habitats, if necessary.
Come visit Dolly, Winston and baby Spring at Zoo Boise, which is open year-round including on Labor Day!