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Australia Zoo welcomes two red panda cubs

<p dir="ltr">Australia Zoo is celebrating the arrival of two red panda cubs, the first to be born at the Queensland-based facility run by the Irwin family.</p> <p dir="ltr">Announcing their birth on social media, the zoo posted, “Our Australia Zoo family has gotten a little bigger - Introducing our 2 red panda cubs! These two adorable fluff balls are enjoying lots of snuggles from their mama. This is a first for us and a proud moment to be giving this critically endangered species a helping hand.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AustraliaZoo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AustraliaZoo</a> family has gotten a little bigger - Introducing our 2 red panda cubs❤️ These two adorable fluff balls are enjoying lots of snuggles from their mama. This is a first for us and a proud moment to be giving this critically endangered species a helping hand. <a href="https://t.co/sK1w9WKb8I">pic.twitter.com/sK1w9WKb8I</a></p> — Australia Zoo (@AustraliaZoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustraliaZoo/status/1481593303347138562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Red pandas are native to the high-altitude forests of Nepal, Burma, and China, and they usually give birth in early winter. They are considered endangered, largely as a result of habitat destruction and poaching.</p> <p dir="ltr">The zoo has also recently welcomed three cassowary chicks, and one of them, Fergo, has already become good friends with Bindi Irwin’s daughter, Grace. Irwin posted a photo on Instagram of the adorable pair last month, writing, “Two cute chickies! Meet Grace’s new best friend, Fergo, the cassowary chick. They absolutely love each other! We are so proud of our breeding program to protect this endangered species.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXrfhLVvt1c/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXrfhLVvt1c/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Irwin also celebrated the arrival of the red panda cubs, posting several photos of them with their mum on Instagram, and writing, “Welcoming the two sweetest bundles of fluff to our family. We are incredibly proud to be part of a breeding program for this critically endangered species.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYq1lQtBz_5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYq1lQtBz_5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Taronga’s five new lion cubs make their public debut

<p dir="ltr">Taronga Zoo’s<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo/lion-cubs" target="_blank">new lion cubs</a><span> </span>have made their public debut and are now accepting visitors to their harbourside home in Mosman.</p> <p dir="ltr">The five cubs, three females, named Malika, Zuri, and Ayanna, and two males, named Khari and Luzuko, were born to experienced mum Maya and first-time dad Ato on August 12, which also happened to be dad’s fourth birthday.</p> <div class="embed"><iframe class="embedly-embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FcNMiveGs600%3Ffeature%3Doembed&amp;display_name=YouTube&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DcNMiveGs600&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FcNMiveGs600%2Fhqdefault.jpg&amp;key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=youtube" width="450" height="253" scrolling="no" title="YouTube embed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div> <p dir="ltr">Once the cubs turned 12 weeks old, they were ready to be introduced to their new home, under the watchful eye of mum Maya, of course. It has been over 18 years since lion cubs were born at Taronga Zoo, and this litter marks the first time there has been an entire pride in the zoo’s African Savannah.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cubs’ names are all Swahili, chosen by zoo supporters because of the lion’s African roots. Malika means ‘like a queen’, Zuri ‘beautiful’, and Ayanna ‘beautiful flower’, while Khari means ‘like a king’ and Luzuko, chosen by Taronga’s carnivore keepers, means ‘glory’.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">We're brimming with pride to announce the public debut of five beautiful lion cubs! 🐾🦁 <br /><br />The cubs who are now 12-weeks-old have taken their first steps into their new home under the watchful 👁️ of mum Maya!<br /><br />To find out more or to book tickets check out <a href="https://t.co/sC6cg9rIna">https://t.co/sC6cg9rIna</a> <a href="https://t.co/eKqEcH0Lh7">pic.twitter.com/eKqEcH0Lh7</a></p> — Taronga Zoo (@tarongazoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/tarongazoo/status/1456079093787729920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Mum and the cubs will have access to their exhibit from 10 am to 2 pm each day, and dad will be in the exhibit from 2 pm onwards. The zoo explains that just like any newborns, the cubs have “bursts of activity followed by napping and cuddling”, so their limited access to the exhibit reflects this; the family needs private time for very important napping and bonding time!</p> <p dir="ltr">This is the third litter for Maya, who was moved to Taronga from the zoo’s sister zoo in Dubbo last year, where she had lived since moving from a South African zoo in 2014.</p> <p dir="ltr">Carnivore unit supervisor Louise Ginman said that the cubs are growing at a rapid rate, currently weighing between 11 and 13kg each, and they’re already developing their own unique personalities. “Our guests are going to be in for a real treat every time they come to visit and see the cubs - with so many milestones on the horizon, no two visits will be the same,” Ms Ginman said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Rick Stevens/Taronga Zoo, Cameron Spencer/Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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The adorable reason why these cub siblings are holding hands

<p>A photographer has captured the incredible moment two bear cubs held paws as they waited for their mother to catch them food in Alaska.</p> <p>Lewis Kemper, 62, from California, managed to captured the picture of the pair of cubs in Lake Clark National Park.</p> <p>“The two bears held hands for around 20 seconds, hoping their mother would bring them some dinner but unfortunately, she came back fishless,” he said.</p> <p>You can see the smaller cub clinging to the bigger sibling's back. The mother bear was hunting for salmon, but didn’t manage to catch anything.</p> <p>Kemper said: “Although bears love their fish, most of them are omnivores and mainly eat plants and of course, a lot of grass.”</p> <p>He said bears are great animals to photography, noting, “'Bears are usually very calm.”</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see more of Kemper’s photos of the bear family. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/test-to-find-out-how-smart-your-dog-is/"><em>Take this test to find out how smart your dog is</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/why-do-dogs-tilt-their-head/"><em>Why do dogs tilt their head?</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/9-tips-for-calming-your-cat/"><em>9 tips for calming your cat</em></a></strong></span></p>

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Giant panda gives birth to surprise twins

<p>Vienna’s famous Schoenbrunn Zoo has welcomed two gorgeous new arrivals to the world as a giant panda on loan from China has given birth to naturally conceived twins.</p> <p>The two panda cubs, pink, hairless and measuring in at 15 centimetres each, arrived on August 7 and came as quite a surprise to the zookeepers, who didn’t expect a second.</p> <p>The panda’s mother, Yang Yang, gave birth inside a dark nesting box observed via an infra-red camera, so it was initially believed she only gave birth to one.</p> <p>In fact a week had passed before keepers noticed the second!</p> <p>Zoologist Eveline Dungl said, “The cubs have little round bellies and panda mummy Yang Yang is very relaxed. You rarely see them because Yang Yang constantly warms them between her paws ... What you can hear very clearly are their suckling and grunting noises when she feeds or licks them.”</p> <p>In line with Chinese tradition, Yang Yang’s cubs will not be named until 100 days due to the low survival rate of newborns, but the siblings appear to be doing well.</p> <p>As we can see in the video above Yang Yang seems absolutely smitten with her new cubs.</p> <p>Don’t you just love pandas? What’s your favourite animal?</p> <p>Let us know in the comments.</p> <p><em>Video credit: YouTube / Associated Press </em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/07/can-you-see-the-15-pandas-in-this-picture/" target="_blank"><strong>Can you see the 15 pandas in this picture?</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/06/giant-panda-cub-born-in-belgian-zoo/"><strong>Giant panda cub born in Belgian zoo</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/05/pandas-make-it-impossible-to-get-things-done/"><strong>Mischievous pandas make it impossible to get anything done</strong></a></em></span></p>

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Giant panda cub born in Belgian zoo

<p>A baby giant panda has been born in a Belgian zoo, a rare event for an endangered species that numbers fewer than 2000 worldwide.</p> <p>The healthy male cub was born in the early hours of Thursday (Thursday night NZ Time) at the Paira Daiza wildlife park to six-year-old Hao Hao and her mate Xing Hui.</p> <p>The pink, blind, hairless cub weighed just 171 grams. Hao Hao's "probable" pregnancy was announced just two weeks ago, accompanied by caution about detecting the tiny fetus.</p> <p>The cub, to be given a name later, emerged as "a little pink sausage" and gave a loud cry before being scooped up in Hao Hao's mouth, the park's zoological director Tim Bouts said.</p> <p>Mother and baby were now doing well, he said, "but we are still in a risky period".</p> <p>The zoo, which has hosted the pair since 2014 under an arrangement with the Chinese authorities, co-operated with experts from the animals' native China to treat the mother by artificial insemination.</p> <p>World nature organisation WWF says a survey in 2014 found only 1864 giant pandas living in the wild, almost double the numbers in the late 1970s and 17 per cent up in a decade.</p> <p>As part of efforts to save the species, which has been hit hard by human encroachment on the highlands where they survive almost entirely on a diet of bamboo, more than 300 pandas now live in zoos, mostly in China.</p> <p>They notoriously struggle to reproduce in captivity, however though artificial breeding techniques and better knowledge of their needs has seen an increase in births in recent years.</p> <p>Pairi Daiza said Belgium had become the third country in Europe to see the successful reproduction of pandas after Austria and Spain. The last successful birth in Europe was at Madrid three years ago.</p> <p>Watch the video above to see Hao Hao caring for her newborn. Don’t worry, she’s not in that tiny enclosure all the time. Zoologists were on hand to help her in case there were any complications.</p> <p>Did you know that panda cubs looked like that when they are first born? Let us know in the comments below. </p> <p><em>First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Stuff.co.nz</strong></span></a></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/05/pandas-make-it-impossible-to-get-things-done/%20">Mischievous pandas make it impossible to get anything done</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/02/panda-steals-apple-video/%20">Sneaky panda steals buddy’s apple</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/panda-bear-helps-her-cub-climb-down-tree/%20">Bei Bei the baby panda rescued by mum</a><br /></strong></em></span></p>

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An adorable bear cub beckoning for a fight

<p>Small animals doing cute, human-like things is guilty pleasure for most. Even though that animal may grow up to be imposing and potentially very, very dangerous, it’s all well and good when their paws are akin to a large household dog.</p> <p>They say that they learn the best through imitation but we haven’t seen too many full grown bears act like this. Watch this small bear cub stand on its hind legs and wobble to the ground. Before so however, he seems to beckon the camera holder toward him as if ready for a fight. He looks a little scary until he falls back to the ground with the grace of a drunk teenager.</p> <p>Unbelievably cute. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/miner-saves-sea-turtles-with-selfless-act/">Hero miner saves sea turtles with selfless act</a></em></strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/image-personality-test/">What do you see when you look at this image?</a></em></strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/christmas-gesture-brings-happiness-to-foster-child/">Kind Christmas gesture brings happiness to foster child</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2015/12/miner-saves-sea-turtles-with-selfless-act/"> </a></em></strong></span></p>

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