The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia successfully bred all four of their red panda pairs, who bore ten cubs in 2014. Of those 10 cubs, seven have survived. More than 100 Red Pandas have been born at SCBI, including this year's births, and 60 of the newborns survived. The survival rate for red panda cubs living in facilities (such as the SCBI) that are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is about 50 percent.
A female red panda generally bears one to four cubs after a gestation period of approximately 134 days. Cubs remain close to their mothers until the next mating season, and reach adult size at about 12 months.
Red pandas are classified as vulnerable, mostly due to habitat loss. The species is native to the bamboo forests of China, Nepal and northern Myanmar. Experts estimate that there are fewer than 10,000 adult red pandas left in the wild. Via Zooborns.
Images Credit: Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute