A NEW male red panda has joined the animal family at the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay as a new partner for female, Nuri.

18-month-old Hop has made the journey from Flamingoland to the idyllic mountainside location and is slowly being introduced to his new home and companion.

The zoo has a rich history in breeding red pandas, a species that is recognised as endangered with as few as 2,500 animals in the wild.

The pairing forms part of a wider breeding programme through the European Stud book who proposed and supported the match.

Kim Wood, director of Living Collections at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Hop and hope he makes the perfect partner for Nuri.

“The two are settling into each other’s company and we hope to see this continue in the coming weeks and months.

“As he familiarises himself with the enclosure, hopefully we will hear the pitter patter of tiny paws in the not too distant future.”

Red pandas remain under threat as their forest homes continue to be destroyed, while poachers hunt them for their fur.

Kim added: “Red pandas face many challenges in the wild and so conservation and breeding programmes such as these are essential to ensure the species survives.

“Further to this, the zoo is a proud supporter of the red panda network, and their vital in-situ conservation and community engagement work.”