Pandas move to find their mates

The pandas need to eat 10 branches of bamboo a day

Two red panda cubs at Bristol Zoo are moving to Birmingham to find their perfect partners on Monday.

The cubs, two brothers named Tenzing and Babu and born at the zoo in June 2004, are part of a conservation breeding programme to increase numbers.

They will be housed in Birmingham Nature Centre where suitable females - using genetic matching - will be found for them.

The red pandas are one of the most highly endangered species in the world.

According to Bristol Zoo, they have suffered population decreases of around 40% in China over the last 50 years.

John Partridge, assistant curator, said: "Moving animals to new homes is always touched by a sadness; the teams that manage Babu and Tenzing have put 100% into their care and have got to know their characters.

"However, the exciting part of conservation breeding is that we play an active role in preserving the future of these beautiful and endangered species."