Calgary Zoo announces red panda birth

The Calgary Zoo announced this week that a red panda cub born in its breeding program in July will soon be making its debut.

"A red panda cub is very dependent on mom for the first three months of it's lifein fact it will not leave the nesting area until it can climb and walk," said the zoo in a statement.

"Around this three month point, it will becomeobservable by the public as it ventures from the den and starts to explore its habitat."

The female cub was born to"proud parents"Sakura and Dusk.

Sakura, the two-year-old mother, came to Calgary from the Granby Zoo last year.Father Dusk is 11-years-old andhasbeen a zoo regular for twoyears.

The averagelifespanis between eight and 10 years, but canreach up to 15 years.

The mammals arenative to the easternHimalayasand southwesternChina.

The Calgary Zoo says it's been listed as vulnerable by theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).