KEEPERS at Dudley Zoo are celebrating the birth of the first red panda at the site in its 73 -year history.

Staff at the zoo have been carefully monitoring mum Yasmin's pregnancy for several weeks, but weren't too sure when her offspring would make its public debut.

Chief executive, Peter Suddock, said: "We believed Yasmin had given birth, but red pandas are very shy creatures so we just played a waiting game."

The gestation period for red pandas is around five months, followed by a 90-day nesting period when the young snuggle down with mum, venturing out at around 12 weeks old.

And when keepers spotted the youngster, who they have named Yogi, wandering in the paddock last week, they caught up with the new arrival to sex and microchip him.

Mr Suddock, added: "It's fantastic news – the first red panda to be born at Dudley Zoo.

“He's an inquisitive little lad and is settling in well.

"Dad, Yang, seems really laid back about it all, although he will play no parenting role whatsoever, and mum seems to be very supportive."