Korea's first naturally bred red panda twins

To make their public debut on Oct. 14

The red panda twins at Seoul Grand Park. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]
The red panda twins at Seoul Grand Park. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]

Seoul Grand Park announced it will open its red panda twins, Maru and Marong — the first successfully bred in captivity in Korea — to the public starting Oct. 14.

The park moved up the twins' public debut ahead of its original schedule. Born on June 19, the pair have grown up healthy under the care of their mother, Rian, and recently began venturing outdoors, signaling they are ready to meet visitors.

The twins mark Seoul Grand Park's first successful captive breeding of red pandas in Korea. Their father, Rabi, came from the Calgary Zoo in Canada, while their mother, Rian, arrived from Tama Zoological Park in Japan in 2023 under a red panda conservation memorandum of understanding.

Red pandas are nocturnal animals that feed primarily on bamboo, fruit and insects. They are sensitive to environmental changes due to their low reproductive rate and sparse population density. Fewer than 10,000 are estimated to remain in the wild worldwide, placing the species on the international list of endangered animals.

The twins' names were chosen through a public naming campaign on social media, reflecting visitor interest and participation. The cubs currently follow their mother, Rian, between indoor and outdoor spaces, gradually expanding their range. They are learning a range of behaviors — walking, climbing trees and descending — and are adapting to new surroundings as they begin accessing the outdoor enclosure.

Seoul Grand Park plans to expand public viewing as the cubs settle in, closely monitoring their health and behavioral changes to ensure a stable adjustment to their new environment.

Rian, who is still nursing, receives a nutritional diet and undergoes ongoing health and weight monitoring, while keepers work to minimize stress from outside stimuli. The cubs, which are vulnerable to disease, have received the necessary vaccinations and both now weigh more than 1 kilogram, a sign of healthy development.

Keepers spread pine wood chips across the floor and hand-built modular play structures of varying heights to create a stimulating indoor environment where the cubs can move naturally and practice climbing. The setup is designed to help the young pandas develop a range of natural behaviors at their own pace.

Seoul Zoo Director Yeo Yong-gu asked visitors to observe proper viewing etiquette. "We plan to allow voluntary entry and exit to protect the health of red pandas, which are sensitive to noise," he said. "Tapping on the viewing window, making loud sounds or pressing too close can cause stress to the animals."


ikson@heraldcorp.com