AssetID: 55238622
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Banham Zoo's red panda cubs take their first steps outdoors
Caption: Banham Zoo's twin red panda cubs have taken their first steps outdoors. The playful pair, born on 22 June 2025, have been growing quickly under the attentive care of their mother, Lu, and are now beginning to explore their outdoor habitat. The zoo has also officially revealed the cubs' names: the female has been named Yun, meaning “cloud” in Chinese, while her brother will be called Ajay, meaning “unconquered” or “invincible” in Hindi. The birth of Yun and Ajay represents an important success for the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme (EEP) which works to protect and sustain vulnerable species such as the red panda (Ailurus fulgens). Red pandas are currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 2,500 estimated to remain in the wild. Their numbers continue to decline due to deforestation, habitat loss, and poaching, making every successful birth a vital contribution to the species' survival. Sarah Stogden, Team Leader of Carnivores, said: “Our red panda twins Yun and Ajay are growing in confidence every day as they continue to explore their habitat under mum Lu's watchful eye, and they have been delighting guests lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them.”
Keywords: Natural World,Banham Zoo,twin,red panda,playful,pair,born,attentive,care,mother,habitat,zoo,cubs,names,European Endangered Species Breeding Programme,EEP,protect,sustain,vulnerable,species,Ailurus fulgens,Endangered,IUCN Red List,wild,deforestation,habitat loss,poaching
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