A 10-year-old female red panda who recently gave birth to two cubs at the Toronto Zoo in June has died. In a social media post on Thursday, the zoo said Sakura passed away this week, and preliminary results found that the red panda, who had faced health challenges in the past few months, experienced a cardiac arrest. “An MRI scan of her brain did not reveal the cause of her neurological signs. However, we do not know if this was a primary heart event or something systemic that led to cardiac arrest and thus, we are doing extra testing to figure that out,” the Toronto Zoo said in the post.

Sakura’s death came just three weeks after one of her cubs passed away. The 10-year-old red panda moved to the Toronto Zoo from the Greater Vancouver Zoo earlier this year for retirement. Staff were later surprised to learn that Sakura was pregnant. She gave birth to two red panda cubs on June 13.

Toronto Zoo said its focus is now caring for the remaining two-month-old cub, who they named “Biggie.” The facility noted that staff had been giving supplemental feedings to the cub since Sakura’s health deteriorated. The zoo added that Biggie has put on weight rapidly on formula. “While we feel confident we are doing our best to help this cub grow, it should be noted that we continue to be cautiously optimistic as the first year of a red panda cub’s life is the most challenging,” the zoo said. “Wildlife care staff are now providing all care for Biggie and are planning to keep her in her current habitat as she is familiar with the space, and it is all set up as needed for biosecurity, environmental parameters, feeding, and monitoring.”

Red Panda Mortality Rates

The news of Sakura’s death is a sad reminder of the challenges facing red pandas in the wild. Red pandas are classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and their population has declined by an estimated 50 per cent in the last 20 years. The main threats to red pandas are habitat loss, deforestation, and poaching.

Red Panda Cub Survival Rate

Red pandas have a low offspring survival rate due to infections, such as distemper and pneumonia. According to the zoo, scientific studies show that as few as 40 per cent of red panda cubs reach their first birthday.

Sakura’s Health

Toronto Zoo had detailed Sakura’s health issues in previous Facebook posts. On Jul. 21, the zoo posted that Sakura had begun showing behaviours suggesting “abnormal neurological activity.” The post said she was being examined in the zoo’s wildlife health centre. After Sakura’s death, the zoo said an MRI of her brain did not reveal the cause of her neurological symptoms. Staff had started supplemental feedings with two-month-old Biggie “in anticipation of health issues with mom,” the Facebook post said. “While we feel confident we are doing our best to help this cub grow, it should be noted that we continue to be cautiously optimistic, as the first year of a red panda cub’s life is the most challenging,” the post said.

A Legacy of Hope

Despite the tragic loss of Sakura and one of her cubs, the Toronto Zoo remains hopeful for the future of Biggie. The zoo is committed to providing her with the best possible care, and they are confident that she will thrive. The zoo is also committed to continuing its work to conserve red pandas in the wild. The zoo hopes that Sakura’s legacy will inspire people to learn more about these fascinating animals and to support conservation efforts.

Looking to the Future

The Toronto Zoo is now focusing on the health of Biggie. They will continue to reassess her condition and feeding schedule as she grows. The zoo added that they’re “cautiously optimistic” for the surviving cub considering the first year of a red panda’s life is the “most challenging.” “We are now directing our full attention and energy into ensuring she continues to be well cared for and supported,” the zoo said.