Endangered Red Panda Sisters Leave Isle Of Wight For Conservation Programme In France

Two endangered red pandas born at Amazon World Zoo Park have left the Isle of Wight to begin a new chapter as part of a Europe-wide conservation breeding programme.

Sisters Xiao Mei (Little Beauty) and Xiao Bao (Little Treasure), known to keepers as Mei and Bao, were born at the Arreton attraction on 17 June 2025 to parents Xiao Xing and Flint.

Their arrival was hailed as a significant success for the zoo, with red panda breeding playing an important role in helping to protect the endangered species.

The pair have now moved to Parc de l’Auxois in France, where they will join the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria's (EAZA) Ex-situ Programme (EEP).

The programme carefully matches animals based on factors including genetics, age and health to help maintain healthy and genetically diverse populations.

Mei and Bao had a difficult start to life after being found to be underweight during their first health checks.

Zoo keepers stepped in to provide supplementary feeds while allowing their mother to continue caring for them naturally.

The sisters were monitored around the clock using specially installed nest box cameras, with regular weigh-ins ensuring they continued to develop.

Although their mother later died from age-related illnesses, the dedicated care of the animal team helped the cubs grow into healthy young red pandas.

Red pandas are listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with fewer than 10,000 thought to remain in the wild.

Their numbers continue to decline because of habitat loss, climate change and poaching.

Amazon World has been involved in EAZA conservation programmes for more than 20 years, helping to protect threatened species through breeding, education and conservation.

The zoo is now preparing to welcome a new female red panda to join Flint and continue its contribution to the international breeding programme.

Rachel Patrick, Head Keeper at Amazon World Zoo Park, said:

"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."