A SELECTION of names have been chosen for the twin red panda cubs born at West Midlands Safari Park in June now it is known they are girls.
And keepers at the popular attraction want the public to vote on their favourites.
The names selected are: Nadiya (meaning hope), Navina (meaning new), Nehal and Nakisha (both meaning beautiful).
Picture by West Midlands Safari Park. s
All four named start with the letter ‘N’ as all animals born at West Midlands Safari Park (WMSP) in 2025 have names beginning with that letter.
The twin cubs, who were both born on June 16, have spent their first three months snuggled up together with their five year-old mum Mei Lin.
Now they are just over three-months-old, the cubs have had their first health check, where they were microchipped, had ID photos taken and their sex was confirmed.
Picture by West Midlands Safari Park. s
Amy Sewell, head keeper of the Discovery Trail, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the news, especially as every cub born here helps to safeguard this endangered species, with fewer than 10,000 left in the Wild.”
“We Know how popular the red pandas are with our guests, so we would love their help naming them.”
How their story unfolded
Mei arrived at the park in August 2021 and was joined by a male red panda named Sanka in March 2022.
The twin cubs are not the only children from their mother and father.
They are the second litter for their mum, as the first red panda cub arrived exactly two years ago in 2023.
Picture by West Midlands Safari Park. s
Amy added: “Mei Lin has been a fantastic mum, and although this is her first time raising twins, she’s done brilliantly.
“She’s even started to show them around, and it’s been wonderful to watch the three of them exploring together, while dad Sanka proudly keeps a watchful eye from a distance.”
Red pandas are listed as ‘endangered’ by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), meaning that the birth of twins was a milestone moment for the park and European breeding efforts, which helps conserve the species.
Reports of smuggling, poaching and hunting live red pandas for the illegal wildlife trade is on the rise.
Lives of red pandas have and continue to be threatened by human activities, such as loss and disappearance of their habitat.
Picture by West Midlands Safari Park. s
The red pandas at the park are part of an EEP (Eaza Ex-Situ programme), which is a collaboration between European zoos to conserves species categorised as ‘Endangered’.
The park is committed to the support of the Red Panda Network, which conserves wild red pandas and their habitat through the education and empowerment of local communities.
WMSP is also sponsoring a forest guardian which helps monitor and protect wild red pandas and their habitats.
Picture by West Midlands Safari Park. s
Helping choose the name
People can visit the post about the red pandas on the park’s Facebook page at: facebook.com/WestMidSafari where they can cast their vote.
Amy said: “We know how popular the red pandas are with our guests, so we would love their help naming them.
“We know they will choose the best names for the twins.”
Picture by West Midlands Safari Park. s
Visitors to the West Midlands Safari Park can see the twin cubs along their their mum and dad at the red panda retreat, located in the Safari Walk area.
Story by Matteo Pirelli.
