We can't get enough of our red panda cubs! | Australia Zoo Life

Guys, we feel so lucky. We are with gorgeous Teddy and Scarlett, the red pandas, this morning and they are so beautiful and wonderful. Red pandas are one of the most extraordinary animals on the planet. They are so unique and interesting. Now, right now they are enjoying their delicious breakfast of fruits and veggies. Extremely healthy, very nutritious and they may have a preference for the fruit though, which is a lot like someone else I know. Oh, yes. If our red pandas and I have something in common, it's that we like fruit a whole lot. Oh, sorry, am I taking too long? We like fruit a whole lot more than vegetables. So, you'll notice the sweet potato has been untouched so far. They're going for the delicious apple and blueberries and that's something really amazing here at Australia Zoo. All of the food for our gorgeous wildlife family is human quality. So, we can eat it just as much as our animals here. Now, red pandas are extremely special. We have a red panda breeding program here at Australia Zoo and Scarlett and Teddy are actually our very first cubs we've ever had born here at Australia Zoo. Now, we have a breeding program because these guys are critically endangered in the wild. They live in the high altitudes of Asia and the Himalayas around China, Myanmar, Nepal, those colder regions and they're losing habitat due to habitat destruction, human population expanding. They're also subject to the pet trade. Oh, you want this mash, don't you? Yeah, that's delicious, isn't it? Yum. They're also subject to the pet trade, which is very sad as well. So, there are a lot of threats facing them. They're losing their forests at a rapid rate but luckily, there is hope here at Australia Zoo. We do have a breeding program as well as other facilities around the world, making sure the red pandas are on the planet for generations to come. And how could you not love them? Look at them. They love their mash. They are so cute. Now, if you notice, their feet actually kind of look like socks. Yeah. They're just built. Are you checking out that sound? Yeah, there's a sound, you guys. Have to secure the area. Construction. Are you guys swapping now? Hi, do you want to swap? Let's swap back. You want to swap back? Here, ready? I'll trade you sides. All right, come over here. There we go. There we go. We have swapped. So, we are very, very lucky to have the most incredible team here at Australia Zoo. Our keepers are so incredibly dedicated, wonderful and kind, making sure that all of our animals have the best life possible. The red pandas are extremely lucky. They get to laze around all day, enjoy the most gorgeous habitat and then get treated with endless amounts of love and care and affection and delicious food. Look at Scarlet. She's just like me. Look at this. She'll take a bite and then just go yum. It's so good. You're very, very polite, Teddy, with the way you eat. I'm very proud of you. You do have a little something. Just onion, nice. Yep. She's really enjoying this. It's not first date food. Scarlet and I really get into our food. It's true. We have a lot in common. Like Taylor was saying, red pandas do have the cutest little socks. They're actually fuzzy on the bottoms of their feet as well. So, because they live in such cold climates, they have to keep themselves nice and warm. So, one of my favorite things about red pandas is it looks like they're always wearing socks. But actually, surprisingly, they adjust very well to our subtropic climate here at Australia Zoo. They very much enjoy, I think they enjoy some of the warm weather and sunshine instead of just no snow and more snow. Oh, totally. These guys live in one of the coldest parts of the world. So, here at Australia Zoo, we are in the tropics. So, we do have things like an air conditioned log and access to climate control for our red panda family. But they actually love the sun and being up in their tree and just lazing around enjoying our tropical weather. It's like they're always on vacation. But what's really amazing is these guys actually spend about 90% of the time up in trees. So, they're designed for climbing. So, they actually have a little digit on their hand that almost resembles a thumb that helps them cling on to branches because they'll go way up to the tip top of the tree. So, you definitely don't want to fall from up there. They can also turn their paws about 100 degrees at the ankle to make sure that they hang on the tree branches. It's really cool. It's crazy when you watch them climb though because it looks like they have velcro on their feet. Like, they just stick to the tree. Like, look at that. They just stick to the trees. It's amazing. I've lost my red panda. I'm sorry. It's okay. She'll just have to enjoy the rest of her breakfast. Do you want to try? This looks delicious. This is Scarlet's. This isn't yours. Here you go. You want that? Yum. Teddy, you are gorgeous. It's very messy, you guys. It's very messy. I apologize. There you go. Well done. It's a good day when you can just get your breakfast everywhere. So, we feel incredibly lucky to have these guys at Australia Zoo as ambassadors for red pandas in the wild as well because they are having such a hard time. So, the next time you visit us, be sure to keep an eye out for the red pandas because they are so cute to watch. Good job. And Teddy is often laying on his back just playing with sticks, having fun. It's so cute. So, we love our red pandas dearly and I know you guys will too. So, thank you for joining us for this wonderful breakfast with the red pandas and sending red panda cuddles your way. It's a pretty good day.