Welsh wildlife park makes tragic announcement about baby red panda
(Manor House Wildlife Park)
A Welsh zoo has shared the tragic news that one of its rare and endangered red panda cubs has died. Manor House Wildlife Park, located a short distance from Tenby in Pembrokeshire, confirmed the sad news in a post on social media.
The adorable Bam Bam was one of a family of four red pandas who lived at the wildlife park with the young cub joined by his brother Fred, his sister Pebbles, and his mother Betty. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter.
Bam Bam died after a short illness despite the best efforts of everyone at the zoo who “worked around the clock” in an attempt to save him.
According to the World Wildlife Fund red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas but they were discovered first in 1825. They tend to live in high-altitude forests in places like Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China.
They are currently listed as endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature with fewer than 10,000 remaining across the world.
A statement from Manor House Wildlife Park said: “The team at Manor Wildlife Park are very sad to announce the passing of our beautiful red panda cub Bam Bam.
“Bam Bam unfortunately passed away after a short illness. The team worked around the clock to provide critical care for Bam Bam but he just wasn’t strong enough to pull through.”
Lots of people paid tribute to Bam Bam upon hearing the sad news. One woman replied to the wildlife park’s post by saying: “That’s such sad news especially when you all take such good care of all them.
“He had a lovely life as a member of the Manor Park family, we watched them all learning to climb trees on a visit to the park recently. So lovely to see them all enjoying themselves.”
Another person said: “So saddened to hear this. Thinking of all the staff and the heartbreak you are going through. Bam Bam’s life may have been short but it was so great as he was born into the wonderful Manor Park family.”
One poster replied to the post by saying: “I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of Bam Bam. It’s heartbreaking to lose such a precious animal.
“The dedication and effort your team put into providing care for him during his illness speaks volumes about your commitment to wildlife conservation.
“Manor House Wildlife Park plays a vital role in raising awareness about endangered species like red pandas.
“Your work not only helps educate the public on the importance of conservation but also contributes significantly to breeding programs that can aid in the survival of these magnificent creatures.”