Latest news with #RedPandas
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Fota Wildlife Park celebrates birth of rare red panda cubs
The cubs were born at Fota Wildlife Park on June 7 - and are set to become some of the star attractions at the popular east Cork facility. Red Pandas or Ailurus Fulgens are endangered because of loss of habitat, hunting and poaching. The cubs are the offspring of three-year-old mother Suzi, who arrived at Fota Wildlife Park from Berlin Zoo, and seven-year-old father Grga, who was transferred from Zagreb Zoo in Croatia in June 2019. The cubs are not yet visible to the public as, for their own development, they are being kept in a nesting box with their mother where they sleep and nurse. The parents at Fota Wildlife Park are part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), a collaborative initiative among European zoos and wildlife parks to ensure the survival of threatened species through coordinated breeding efforts. The pandas decline in the wild is primarily due to habitat loss and poaching across its native range in the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. Lead Ranger Julien Fonteneau said the births are a major boost to the park and the global breeding programme. "We are absolutely delighted to announce the births of the two red pandas," he said. "It has been two years since we last welcomed red panda cubs at Fota Wildlife Park. Their mother, Suzi, is a first-time mum and has taken to her new role with ease. "She's currently being very protective, displaying typical red panda maternal behaviour by keeping the cubs secure, while diligently feeding and grooming them. ADVERTISEMENT "Being involved in the care of an endangered species is one of the most meaningful aspects of the animal care work at Fota Wildlife Park. "We hope that the red panda births will raise awareness around species and biodiversity loss and will inspire and educate the visiting public and future generations. "Although the cubs remain mostly hidden for now, visitors might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them when Suzi occasionally moves them between nesting boxes. Over the next few months, and as they grow more confident, the cubs are expected to make brief appearances during quieter periods of the day, closely supervised by Suzi." Fota Wildlife Park will name the cubs following a public campaign. To be in with a chance of winning one of two conservation annual passes, name suggestions can be entered via the wildlife park's blog at Red pandas are primarily herbivorous, with bamboo shoots making up the bulk of their diet. At Fota Wildlife Park, they are fed freshly harvested bamboo grown on-site. The sheltered and temperate climate of Fota Island provides ideal conditions for bamboo cultivation, ensuring a sustainable and nutritious food supply. Their diet is occasionally supplemented with fruits, insects, and small animals, especially during the warmer months. Fota has successfully expanded from 22 animal species in 1983 up to 113 species at the moment. From a focus on animals like bison and cheetahs, the park now has tigers, lions and rhino. In its opening year of 1983, the east Cork park had 106,000 visitors. It is now approaching 500,000 visitors per year - and ranks as the largest visitor attraction in the south. It is now renowned as one of the world's leading breeding sites for endangered species and has successfully helped bring back species like the European Bison from the brink of extinction. Fota has acclaimed breeding programmes for cheetahs, giraffes, lemurs and now both lions and tigers.
India.com
24-04-2025
- General
- India.com
These 11 Animals Are Illegal To Keep As Pets In India: THIS Ferocious Dog Breed Is On The List Too!
photoDetails english 2889943 Updated:Apr 24, 2025, 07:00 AM IST 11 Animals Which Are Illegal To Keep As Pets In India 1 / 12 Animals Are Illegal To Keep As Pets In India: Today, let's find out in this compilation which are the animals that are not allowed as pets in our country as they are wild, endangered, or protected by law. Check out the list here: Monitor Lizard 2 / 12 They are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and specifically listed in Schedule I, due to concerns about their declining population and the importance they play in the ecosystem. They are aggressive and it can pose a safety hazard. Tiger, Lion, Leopard - Big Cats 3 / 12 It is illegal to keep tigers, lions, and leopards - the big cat family as pets in India. These animals are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act due to their endangered status, the need to protect wild populations, and concerns about public safety. Star Tortoise 4 / 12 Indian Star Tortoise is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. They are listed under Schedule I, which provides them with the highest level of protection. Possessing a protected species is an offense that can lead to fine and imprisonment. Sloth Bear 5 / 12 Sloth bears are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. They are often targeted for poaching and illegal trade. Red Pandas 6 / 12 It is illegal to keep Red Pandas as pets in India as they are critically endangered species protected under Indian wildlife laws. They are protected to prevent illegal hunting for the pet trade and to protect their habitat. Pitbull 7 / 12 The government has levelled the ban on Pitbull after receiving recommendations from animal welfare organizations, including PETA India. These were based on the rising number of dog bite incidents, some of which have been fatal, particularly involving breeds like Pitbulls. Pangolins 8 / 12 Organizations like the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Wildlife Trust of India work to protect pangolins from poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Both the Indian and Chinese pangolin species are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which makes hunting, trade, and any other form of utilization of these species or their parts illegal. Orangutans 9 / 12 The endangered species can't be kept as a pet in India. This prohibition is under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. Snakes 10 / 12 In Indian snakes can't be kept as pets because they are often illegally traded or misused for supposed medicinal properties. Species such as Indian cobra and python are illegal to keep as pets. Elephants 11 / 12 Protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, private ownership of Elephants without government permission is prohibited in India. However, elephants are often used in cultural rituals. Blackbuck 12 / 12 Keeping blackbucks as pets is banned in India. Blackbucks are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which prohibits private ownership and confinement of these animals.
Mint
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Mint
JD Vance's son Vivek seen with his favourite book while meeting PM Modi? Here's what the 5-year-old is reading
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed United States Vice President JD Vance and his family to his residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg on Monday, April 21, before a formal bilateral meeting between the two leaders. Vance, on a four-day visit to India, was accompanied by his Indian-origin wife, Usha Vance, and his three children—sons Ewan and Vivek and daughter Mirabel—to the PM's residence. In the first pictures of the meeting, released on Monday evening, PM Modi is seen welcoming the family of five. Modi greets the kids, and in one picture, the PM is seen caressing Vivek, the second son of the Vance couple. Vivek, the couple's second child, born in February 2020, is dressed in black with a Nehru jacket. One peculiar feature in the picture is the book that Vivek carries. What is Vivek reading, Red Pandas? Vivek, as evident in the pictures, is perhaps reading the Red Pandas (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 1). The book is authored by Laura Marsh and published by the National Geographic Society through National Geographic Society. Vivek, as evident in the pictures, is perhaps reading the Red Pandas (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 1). The book is authored by Laura Marsh and published by the National Geographic Society through National Geographic Society. 'Find out about the shy and rarely seen red panda! This level 1 reader documents the lives of red pandas in their environment. The carefully constructed text and beautiful photographs guarantee a successful and rewarding reading experience for any reader, especially those who love wild animals,' reads the 'about the book' section. Vance's Three Kids The couple welcomed their first child, son Ewan, in June 2017. The second son Vivek, was born in February 2020. Mirabel, the daughter, was born in December 2021. After welcoming the family, Modi was seen in videos taking the family around the lawns of his Lok Kalyan Marg residence. Inside the house, Modi is seen joyfully bonding with the kids and sharing some joyful moments. At one point, Modi hands over peacock feathers to all three kids while the parents, JD and Usha, look on. The four-day itinerary of Vance's first trip to India after becoming US Vice President primarily includes cultural engagements and visits to historic sites in Jaipur and Agra. The two leaders had a bilateral meeting on Monday evening. Later in the night, Vice President Vance will travel to Jaipur for his engagements on April 22. Vance and family are scheduled to visit Agra on April 23. His visit to India will conclude on Thursday, April 24, with his departure at 6.40 a.m.
