The 海角社区官网Zoo has lost one of its newest members, a young red panda born three months ago affectionately known as 鈥淏aby Spice.鈥
The zoo says the red panda cub鈥檚 death was 鈥渦nexpected鈥 and 鈥渟udden鈥 after the cub, who showed no signs of illness before this past weekend, suddenly became ill on Sunday morning.
The cub could be heard 鈥渧ocalizing鈥 and when staff checked on him they found him lying on his side and extremely weak.
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The zoo says he was rushed to the Wildlife Health Centre for immediate treatment by its veterinary team, where the cub was given oxygen, fluids and antibiotics, and had to be warmed up because his temperature had dropped so low.
Despite their efforts, and a brief period when his condition became stable, the cub stopped breathing.
The zoo says staff reached out to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums鈥 Red Panda Species Survival Program, who confirmed that when these scenarios occur there is little than can be done. A post-mortem exam was conducted to help identify a possible cause of his 鈥渞apid decline.鈥
The zoo had launched a naming contest for the cub and said his keepers had decided to name him 鈥淒ash,鈥 likely in homage to his mom, 鈥淧aprika.鈥
Staff will continue to monitor his mom, who appears to be doing well and adjusting to not having her cub with her.
鈥淓very daily weigh-in was the highlight of our day and we loved seeing his little 鈥榊oda鈥欌 face every time we opened the nest box,鈥 said Dash鈥檚 keepers in a written statement released by the 海角社区官网Zoo.
鈥淭o watch as he grew from a hesitant cub to a brave little boy will be one of our fondest memories. We are sad that our time with him was so short, but we will cherish every moment we shared with him.鈥
The zoo says the loss highlights the fragility of red panda cubs, even months after they are born. Red pandas are difficult to breed, as evidenced by the high percentage 鈥 some 40 per cent 鈥 of pregnancy losses compared to other species, according to a recent study by the Cincinnati Zoo. The zoo says there are similar challenges after the cubs are born; about 40 per cent of them die within a year of their birth.
That鈥檚 why the birth of Dash in the summer was so celebrated, said the zoo. His was only the third red panda birth at the zoo in more than 25 years.
IM
Ivy
Mak is a team editor on the Star鈥檚 breaking news desk, based in
Toronto. Reach her via email: ivymak@thestar.ca.
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