
Red panda twins born in Isle of Wight zoo breeding programme
In a Facebook post, the zoo, near Arreton, said it was "over the moon" at its success.It added: "The cubs are still young and there is always a risk but Xiao has done such a fantastic job so far."The cubs will remain hidden in the nest boxes until at least three months old. "Senior staff have been and will continue to monitor the enclosure, nest boxes and cubs via CCTV installed to make sure all is well."Red pandas are poached for fur, get caught in hunters' wild pig and deer traps and are also under threat from forest clearance, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.
You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
Most popular names for baby boys and girls in 2024 revealed
Muhammad was the most popular name for baby boys in England and Wales in 2024, figures show. It was the second year running that Muhammad topped the list, having been in the top 10 since 2016. Noah came in second, with Oliver in third, just as they did in 2023. Olivia and Amelia and held the top two spots for baby girl names for the third year in a row, but Isla dropped out of the top three after being replaced by Lily. Olivia has been in the top three for girls' names every year since 2006, with 2,761 girls given the name in 2024. The rankings were created using the exact spellings of names given at birth registration, meaning similar names with different spellings were counted separately. The data, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), shows that three variant spellings of Muhammad made the list of the top 100 baby boys' names in England and Wales in 2024. Muhammad ranked first with 5,721 boys being given the name, while Mohammed came in 21st with 1,760 and Mohammad came 53rd with 986. Royal names continued to fall in popularity on the whole. George ranked sixth with 3,257 babies being given the name and William came in 27th. Louis came in 47th for boys and Charlotte ranked 23rd for girls. Names given to baby boys less than five times in 2024 include Cuthbert, Crispin, Awesome and Beckham. Names given to baby girls less than five times include Orchid, Poem, Sicily and Everest.


The Guardian
31 minutes ago
- The Guardian
No one wants to hear about your dreams – unless you follow my golden rule
As everyone knows – or ought to know – there is nothing as boring as listening to someone tell you about a dream they have had. This is a shame, as there is some good, out‑there content going begging. There could be gold in there, if only the dreamer knew how to deliver it. This is the problem: not the dreams themselves, but how bad we are at sharing them. Keenly aware of the wondrous magic in some of my own dreams, and anxious for no one to miss out on hearing about them, I have been working on my dream-telling technique. And I've come up with some guidelines. Or, rather, one guideline. There is only the one: you have to keep it brief. Don't get me wrong: the dream itself has to have something about it, but however good it is, you have only one short shot at relating it before you lose your audience completely. The top line, the headline, is as much as most people want to hear. I'm told this is often the case with my column, which is disappointing, because the headline is the one bit I don't write. Setting my dismay aside, I urge you to embrace this unfortunate reality in your dream-telling. If you do so, you won't fritter away your one opportunity to get the magic across. Allow yourself – and your listener – a maximum of one sentence. Don't forget, you have all but lost your audience anyway the moment they realise what you are talking about. So make it snappy or you are doomed. Let's say you have dreamed that your legs were carrots. In this case, you just say: 'I dreamed my legs were carrots.' That one sentence is plenty. Leave them wanting more, which they almost certainly won't, but they will certainly be waiting – with some dread – for the 'and'. It's even possible that they will say: 'And …?' if only in a go-on-get-it-over-with way. Even then, say nothing, unless pressed, which you won't be. If you don't have something truly excellent with which to elongate the original sentence, don't bother. In this case, something like '… and one of them turned into a cricket bat' might just pass muster. But that really has to be the end of it. If you ever hear yourself saying: 'And then …' abandon ship at once. It's over. Because with 'and then' you are signalling the story could go on for ever – and you will have turned your dream into your listener's nightmare. Adrian Chiles is a broadcaster, writer and Guardian columnist


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Warning signs of hidden damp and mould in your home – it could cost you thousands and damage your health
BUYING a home is a very exciting time, and many believe summer is the best time to do it when the better weather can make things easier for viewings and moving. But when the sun is shining and the temperatures are warmer, you might not notice things that could indicate problems in the winter months. 3 3 While you're looking at big-ticket items like kitchens and bathrooms, it's easy to miss subtle warning signs of bigger problems. And these issues could quickly turn your dream home into a nightmare - even costing you thousands of pounds further down the line. For example, small indicators of mould could easily be hidden while you're viewing a property and your attention is elsewhere. So, in a bid to help, property experts have revealed that three subtle signs could indicate that a home has a major dampness and mould problem. Kevin Barzegar, from award-winning estate agency Kaybridge Residential, said these red flags are surprisingly common but frequently overlooked. He said: "Too many buyers get caught up in the aesthetics and forget to look for the warning signs that matter. "They're focused on whether they like the layout or imagining their furniture in the space, rather than looking for problems. "Estate agents and sellers know this, so they'll often schedule viewings during optimal conditions, like bright sunny days when condensation is minimal, or after the heating's been off for hours so musty smells have had time to dissipate. "Damp and mould issues can affect not only your wallet, but your family's health too." "Finding these issues before you buy gives you negotiating power, but discovering them after completion could cost you thousands in repairs." 1. Paint bubbling or uneven finishes Most people don't pay attention to the paint job because they know it's likely that they'll repaint anyway. However, the experts have urged people to take a closer look when entering a prospective home. Paint that's bubbling, peeling, or has an uneven finish often signals water damage lurking behind the walls. This is particularly telling when you spot it in unexpected places, like behind furniture or near ceilings. They have also encouraged people to pay special attention to areas where walls meet ceilings, around window frames, and behind radiators. Even small patches of discoloured or textured paint could indicate a much bigger problem underneath. Kevin says: "Water trapped in walls will always find a way to show itself. 'Fresh paint might cover the problem temporarily, but it can't hide the telltale signs forever.' 2. Musty or sweet, stale odours Many estate agents can hide smells with cleaning products or air fresheners, but the property pros have urged people not to be fooled by this. Take a moment in each room to breathe normally and notice any unusual odours, as they could be hiding something worse. Your nose is one of your best tools during a house viewing. Musty, earthy, or sweet stale smells are dead giveaways for hidden mould growth, especially in rooms with poor ventilation, like basements, bathrooms, or converted loft spaces. Kevin said: 'If you walk into a room and something doesn't smell right, trust your instincts. "Sellers often try to mask these odours with air fresheners or candles, but the underlying smell will still come through.' KEVIN has also shared some practical inspection techniques, beyond these three warning signs, that could save you thousands. Bring a torch - Dark corners, cupboards under stairs, and basement areas often hide the worst problems. A simple torch can reveal staining, discolouration, or mould growth that you'd miss in poor lighting. Don't ignore small patches - That tiny dark spot near the skirting board might look harmless, but it could be the tip of the iceberg. Small patches of mould or damp often indicate much larger problems hidden from view. Use your nose as much as your eyes - Walk through each room slowly and pay attention to changes in odour. Different types of mould and damp produce distinct odours, from musty basement smells to sweet, sickly scents. Kevin says: 'I always tell my clients to take their time during viewings. 'Spend at least five minutes in each room, open cupboards, look behind furniture if possible, and don't be afraid to ask questions about anything that seems off.' 3. Condensation when rooms are 'well-ventilated' Excessive condensation on windows, in addition to being a result of poor ventilation, could signal rising damp or inadequate insulation. If you notice water droplets or fogging on windows in rooms that appear to have good airflow, dig deeper. Check window sills for water damage, peeling paint, or soft wood. These are all signs that condensation has been a long-term problem. Kevin explains: "Condensation that persists even when windows are open or ventilation seems adequate is a red flag. 'It often points to moisture coming up from the ground or trapped within the building structure.' 3