Lincoln Park Zoo’s red panda cubs turning iconic auburn color

Everyone in Chicago knows it’s been a good month for the cubs—the Lincoln Park Zoo’s red panda cubs, that is.

Two-month-old Clark and his sister Addison were born June 26 and had their second checkups on Tuesday, the North Side zoo announced Tuesday.

Since their last exam on July 10, Clark has doubled in weight, and Addison has roughly tripled. Both are nursing and opening their eyes—big milestones for young red pandas.

And thought the cubs were tan color at birth, their fur has begun changing into the species’ iconic auburn color, a statement from Lincoln Park Zoo said.

“The red panda cubs continue to be healthy and curious of their surroundings. The cubs are often seen trying to explore outside of the den before quickly being scooped up by their mother, Leafa,” Mark Kamhout, zoo curator of mammals, said in the statement.

“With this behavior we anticipate the cubs will be ready to make their public debut within the next several weeks,” he said.

Red pandas look more like raccoons, but are actually not related to raccoons or the better-known giant pandas. They are native to the Himalayan mountains, where they are considered “vulnerable” due to habitat loss and poaching.

The cubs and Leafa are currently not on exhibit, but their father Phoenix is on display daily at the Kovler Lion House.