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Watch these cute sleeping red panda cubs

Watch: First days of life for two red panda cubs

Two red panda cubs have been born at Whipsnade zoo and their first few days have been captured on camera.

The six-week-old cubs were born on 16 July to mum Ruby and dad Nilo.

The ZSL conservation zoo is celebrating their birth as a boost to the endangered species and say they are keeping a "close eye" on them.

The zoo doesn't know if the cubs are male or female but will find out at their first health check at ten weeks old.

After that they will also come up for names with the little ones.

Zookeeper Amanda Robinson said: "We're keeping a close eye on the family while giving them space to bond and grow, and it's clear Ruby is an excellent mum and has been doing a brilliant job caring for her two little ones."

Five facts about red pandas

Red panda cubWhipsnade Zoo

Red pandas are endangered

  1. Red pandas originally come from the forest of the Himalayas and south-western China.

  2. Despite its name the small tree-living mammal is not related to the giant panda.

  3. Red panda cubs weigh around 100 grams when they were born, which is about the same as a single banana.

  4. The cubs are born with their eyes and ears closed and they don't open them until around 18 days later.

  5. Red pandas are endangered and are on the IUCN Red List mostly because of loss of natural habitat.