This is the moment a baby red panda lifts up its head and feels the sun on its face after being born at a popular Dutch safari park.
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), a mammal species native to the eastern Himalayas and south-western China, was born at Safaripark Beekse Bergen in the Dutch municipality of Hilvarenbeek.
The Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorises the red panda as ‘endangered’ and there are only estimated to be around 2,500 living in the wild.
Safari park spokesperson Kris Jansen said: “The young are fragile in the initial period after birth which is why we leave the mother, father and their child completely alone.
“We disturb them only when necessary, so we do not yet know the sex of the family member.”
Jansen added: “The mother was pregnant for 4.5 months.”
According to the safari park spokesperson, it will be a while before visitors see the newborn, still unnamed.
Jansen said: “Red pandas are real nest animals and the young stay there for a long time. They only come out after about three months.”
Last week, a baby a western lowland gorilla was born at the park, only the second time it has ever happened.
The infant was gorilla mum Tuena’s first baby. Its dad, 13-year-old Komale, previous fathered another of the zoo’s gorillas ,Mies.
Mies was the first western lowland gorilla born at the animal park and now has a bouncing baby half-brother or sister to play with.
Safaripark Beekse Bergen takes part in a breeding programme involving 400 western lowland gorillas
Baby red panda born in Dutch safari park 
Baby red panda born in Dutch safari park
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Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
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