Tautphaus Park's Delilah may not be getting the Ron Burgandy-style fanfare seen in the movie Anchorman, but our six-year old resident female red panda still gets a heart-warming nod for becoming the first of her kind to produce a cub at the Idaho Falls Zoo.
The newborn male can be found in the zoo's Primate Center during his 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. feeding sessions. Although the cub will always be a native of I.F., he won't be calling the IFZ home for much longer. His travel papers are already set to take him over to Zoo Knoxville in Tennessee.
Delilah actually gave birth to two cubs, but the other one passed away shortly after birth. To help things along, the cub is being hand-raised by zoo staff to ensure its health and wellbeing.
From the City of Idaho Falls announcement earlier today:
As it’s not possible for the cub to be returned to his mother, Idaho Falls Zoo animal care staff have been in touch with red panda Species Survival Plan (SSP) representatives at Zoo Knoxville.
Red pandas are endangered so each new cub is extremely important to the future of the species. Your Idaho Falls Zoo participates in the red panda SSP. An SSP is a cooperatively-managed breeding program between facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that manages captive threatened or endangered species.
He will continue to be hand-raised at Zoo Knoxville with other red panda cubs as being raised with others of his species is crucial to their healthy development.
“We, of course, want to give this little cub the best chance possible for a healthy future,” says Zoo Director David Pennock, “and that means ensuring he’s raised with other cubs of his species.”
The little cub is especially dear to the zoo as his father, Winston, passed away this week due to a medical issue. Zoo staff will be working with the red panda SSP representatives to find a new mate for Delilah.
Part of being an AZA accredited organization is always providing the highest level of professional attention and welfare for the animals in our care as they serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. The red panda cub is a perfect example of the level of professional care provided to animals in accredited organizations as he’ll be flown to Zoo Knoxville in comfort and style aboard a private plane.