Rare red panda cubs make public debut at UK zoo

LONDON (Reuters) - Two rare Red Panda cubs have gone on show at Bristol Zoo Gardens in eastern*** England after spending the first four months of their lives hidden away in a nesting box with their mother. Tenzing and Babu, named after renowned Himalayan sherpas, are both making good progress, a zoo spokeswoman said.

Though not as rare as the more familiar Giant Pandas, Red Pandas are endangered in the wild and their numbers have fallen 40 percent in China over the last 50 years. Loss of natural habitat, poaching and attacks by domestic dogs have all taken their toll.

Red Pandas have rust-colored fur on the body and face and boast long bushy tails with black and white rings around the tip. Adults live about 10 years in captivity.The zoo grows its own supply of their staple food, bamboo.<snip>

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=3625433


*** think they need new subeditors at reuters....Bristol is in southwest England...