Pair of Female Red Panda Cubs Born in Zoo Bosie

The Zoo Boise is currently home to a pair of tiny female red panda cubs that were born on June 6.

The pair of cubs was born to mom Dolly and her mate Winston early this month. The unnamed cubs are the fourth litter of red pandas at the zoo and were born under 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," according to the news release.

 The cubs are spending the initial few weeks in the den with their mother, as it is done in the wild and zoo authorities are giving the mother and cubs privacy so that the mother can provide complete care to the cubs and ensure good growth.  Dolly is not a first time mom- she give birth to her first cub last year and is a good mother and takes care of her cubs.

As the cubs grow and develop they will soon begin to explore the exhibit and the zoo goers can view them. For panda cubs the initial few weeks of life are critical. A veterinary exam of the babies has found them to be in good health.

Red Pandas are native to the eastern Himalayas and Southwestern China and are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. It is estimated that in the wild, less than 10,000 mature red panda exists.  Their population faces a great threat from habitat loss, fragmentation, poaching and inbreeding depression.