Red Panda Has Rare Set Of Triplets

AP Report ^ | June 20, 2009

[Steelfish]

Red panda has rare set of triplets

Babies born at Fargo, N.D. zoo are two females and one male

Red panda mom Shan Tou curls up with her triplet babies at the Red River Zoo in Fargo, N.D. [Pic in URL]

Carrie Snyder / AP

FARGO, N.D. - The Red River Zoo in North Dakota has welcomed a rare new set of red panda triplets.

The new babies are two females and one male. They were born June 11 at the zoo in Fargo.

Zoo executive director Paula Grimestad said triplets are rare for red pandas and are especially welcome because the animals are considered endangered.

The zoo's panda keeper, Marcy Thompson, says it's been 10 years since the last Chinese red panda triplets were born in the Western Hemisphere.

Unlike the bear-like giant pandas, red pandas resemble raccoons with long bushy tails.

[null and void]

*cues The Beach Boys*

Two girls for every boy...

[siamesecats]

I know these aren’t cats, but these critters are cute, as all babies are :)

[Jeff Chandler]

Bush's Fault

[Slings and Arrows]

Thanks for the ping - red pandas are great!

[patriot08]

“Bush’s fault’

LOL

[Tax-chick]

Cute little things. They have some at the Columbia, SC, zoo.