The red panda cub born at West Midlands Safari Park on June 21 has undergone her first full health check, revealing that she is a female.
Now almost three months old, the cub was examined by the veterinary team and keepers, who checked her health, microchipped her and took identification photographs. The examination confirmed that she is developing well.
Following the check, keepers also announced her name: Omari, which the park says means “light” in Nepalese, a reference to one of the countries where red pandas live in the wild.
Omari is the daughter of six-year-old Mei Lin and eight-year-old Sanka, the park’s resident red panda pair.
“Now that the red panda cub is almost three months old, keepers and vets have carried out the first full health check. After checking the cub is in great health and microchipping, the vet was then able to give us the big gender reveal! So, we are very excited to welcome another little girl! Each red panda cub born here at the Park is incredibly special as their numbers in the wild are dangerously low with it estimated that there are fewer than 10,000 remaining,” says Vicky McFarlane, Head Keeper of the Discovery Trail.
Omari will soon spend more time outside the nest
Mei Lin, who arrived at West Midlands Safari Park in August 2021, has previous experience raising young. Sanka joined her in March 2022 as part of the EAZA Ex Situ Programme (EEP) for the species.
“As always, Mei Lin has been a brilliant, experienced mum to her little girl and as the cub gets bigger and more curious, she will start to spend more time out of the nest box exploring her habitat with Mum and Dad,” McFarlane explains.
All animals born at the park in 2026 are being given names beginning with the letter “O”, and keepers unanimously chose Omari for the young red panda.
“This year, all animals born at the Park will have names starting with the letter ‘O’. Keepers managed to narrow down a lot of ideas and have unanimously agreed this little one’s name is Omari, meaning ‘light’, as she really does brighten up all our days with her little mischievous face!” McFarlane adds.
An Endangered species threatened by habitat loss
Red pandas inhabit high-altitude forests of the Eastern Himalayas, particularly broadleaved forests with an understory of bamboo, which makes up the main part of their diet.
The species is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation caused by human activities are among its main threats. Although the exact size of the wild population remains uncertain, West Midlands Safari Park reports estimates of fewer than 10,000 individuals remaining.
The park also supports the Red Panda Network, a conservation organisation working in Nepal to protect the species and its habitat. Funding contributes to its Forest Guardians programme, which trains and employs local people to monitor red panda habitat and work with communities on conservation.
“There are over 150 forest guardians working across the project area. We sponsor one such guardian and wish him and the rest of the RPN lots of luck in their valuable work,” says Research & Conservation Officer Katie McDonald.
As Omari becomes increasingly active, visitors will have more opportunities to see her exploring outside the nest alongside Mei Lin and Sanka.
