August 2, 2013 - Knoxville Zoo has some adorable new residents! Two red panda cubs were born at the zoo on June 1, 2013, and while they are not quite ready to venture out of their nest box just yet, guests can get a behind-the-scenes peek into their den via the zoo's Panda Cam at the Boyd Family Red Panda Village.

At nine weeks old, the male and female cubs are healthy and being reared by first-time mother Scarlett. Although red panda cubs typically don't venture out of their nest box until around 3 months of age, the zoo's Panda Cam will give zoo visitors the opportunity to see into their den. Panda fans can also view the live camera feed on the Knoxville News Sentinel web site at www.knoxnews.com/zoo/redpandas/.

The birth of these cubs brings the number of red pandas born at Knoxville Zoo to 106. The zoo ranks as one of the top two zoos in the world for the breeding of endangered red pandas. The zoo plans to invite the community to choose their names in the coming weeks when they make their first forays into their outdoor habitat.

Red pandas are endangered, primarily due to destruction of their native habitat, which extends from western Nepal to northern Myanmar.

Knoxville Zoo is Knoxville's largest year-round attraction. Located off exit 392 from Interstate 40, the zoo is open every day except Christmas Day. Knoxville Zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, the zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3 p.m. For more information, please call 865-637-5331 ext. 300 or visit www.knoxville-zoo.org.