A pair of endangered red pandas, born at Amazon World Zoo Park last year, have embarked on the next chapter of their journey, moving to France as part of an international conservation breeding programme.
Sisters Xiao Mei (Little Beauty) and Xiao Bao (Little Treasure), affectionately known by keepers as Mei and Bao, were born at Amazon World Zoo Park in June 2025 to mother Xiao Xing, known as Xiao, and father Flint.
Their birth marked a significant achievement for the Isle of Wight zoo, as successfully breeding red pandas plays an important role in safeguarding the future of this endangered species.
But the sisters had a challenging start to life. During their first veterinary health check, both cubs were found to be underweight. To give them the best possible chance of survival, senior keepers stepped in to co-rear them by supplementing feeds with puppy milk throughout the day, while the cubs remained with their mother, Xiao. Overnight, Xiao continued to care for her cubs naturally, and they were weighed twice a week to monitor their progress.
Sadly, the cubs later lost their mother, Xiao, due to age-related illnesses; however, thanks to the commitment and expertise of the animal care team, Mei and Bao continued to thrive and have now reached an important milestone.
The pair have now moved to Parc de l’Auxois in France, where they will continue to contribute to the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP), a carefully managed breeding and conservation programme coordinated by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
The EEP works by pairing animals across accredited zoos based on their genetics, age and health. This helps to maintain genetically diverse populations of endangered species. These programmes ensure future generations of threatened animals can thrive while supporting wider conservation efforts.
Red pandas are currently classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with wild populations threatened by habitat loss, climate change and poaching. It’s estimated that fewer than 10,000 red pandas remain in the wild, with the global red panda population declining by 50% in 20 years according to the Red Panda Network.
Amazon World has been an active participant in EAZA conservation programmes for over 20 years, working alongside zoos across Europe to help secure the future of threatened species through responsible breeding, education and conservation.
While saying goodbye to Mei and Bao has been emotional for the team, the move marks exactly what conservation breeding programmes are designed to achieve. Amazon World Zoo Park is now preparing to welcome a new female red panda in the coming months, who will join Flint as the zoo continues its contribution to conservation efforts.
Rachel Patrick, Head Keeper
“Watching these two incredible female red pandas grow from tiny cubs into independent young adults has been an absolute highlight for our entire keeping team.
“While we will miss their playful energy daily, sending them to France is a vital step forward for the international breeding programme.
“We are incredibly proud to contribute to the global conservation of this endangered species, and we know our colleagues in France will cherish them just as much as we have”.
