LANSING – A red panda cub born at the Potter Park Zoo in June has died, zoo officials announced on Aug. 28.
Maliha, the cub’s mother, successfully gave birth to her third cub on July 5, according to the zoo. The cub weighed 6.5 ounces and marked a milestone for the zoo in light of its efforts to aid the red panda population, listed as an endangered species.
“It is with great sadness that the Potter Park Zoo team announces the loss of the young red panda born July 5, 2025 to mother Maliha and father Deagan-Reid. The cause of death is unknown until a necropsy is completed,” zoo officials said in a Facebook post.
“Red panda offspring are very fragile with approximately a 40 percent neonatal mortality rate. The cub had been steadily gaining weight, was alert and appeared to be thriving prior to a sudden decline in its health. The post-mortem evaluation will determine the cause of death and that information will contribute to the body of knowledge that could help other young red panda and their ability to thrive.
“This is a very difficult loss for our team and we hope the community will keep those who cared for this young animal in their thoughts.”
The zoo was keeping Maliha and her cub off the exhibit, she was actively nursing the cub and the cub was growing before taking ill.
The zoo never released a sex or name for the cub.
The cub’s father, Degan-Reid, was paired with Maliah in 2021 by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Red Panda Species Survival Program. He remains in the exhibit.
Reporter Sarah Moore contributed. Contact her at smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Red panda cub born at Potter Park Zoo this summer dies
Reporting by Lansing State Journal staff / Lansing State Journal
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