MATCH-MAKING wildlife park bosses hope that romance is about to blossom between two rare pandas.

A second Red Panda - a male - has joined the lone female at the Lake District Wildlife Park, near Keswick.

And, although it's early days, their courtship looks promising, fuelling hopes that cubs of this endangered species could be born in Cumbria.

Meili - meaning beautiful one in Chinese - arrived as a youngster from Whipsnade Zoo in autumn 2013.

She was initially quite shy, but has become a real star, creeping down from the oak tree for treats during the daily Red Panda talk.

She has now been joined by young male Charu who has been brought to the attraction on the shores of Bassenthwaite from Dublin Zoo.

The pair have been given time to get used to each other before being released into the enclosure, where keepers - and visitors - are eagerly watching to see how the continue to get along.

Park manager Richard Robinson is excited by the prospect of cubs in Cumbria, further enhancing the attraction's reputation for being at the forefront of helping conserve rare species of animals.

He said: "We’ve been patiently waiting for this day for years. In the past we’ve been home to juvenile male Red Pandas before they move on to start breeding.

"The arrival of Meili at the park in 2013 marked the start of our own breeding opportunity and we’re really excited she’s now got a mate. 

"For a first introduction things have gone well. I opened the door for Charu and he was quite relaxed.

"He and Meili have said hello several times and they’re keeping an eye on each other in the camouflage of the oak tree."

The Red Panda - also called lesser panda and red cat-bear - is native to the eastern Himalayas and south western China.

Red Pandas are slightly larger than a domestic cat, with reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait because of its shorter front legs.

As part of the work at the wildlife park, keepers explain how the species are becoming more vulnerable in the wild.

Although nocturnal by nature, they will be spotted in their oak tree at the wildlife park and should come down to feed on bamboo and insects during the daily keeper talk.

Mr Robinson added: "Conservation is a strong message at the park, so we’re especially pleased to have a breeding pair of Red Pandas because their International Union for Conservation of Nature status has been elevated from vulnerable

to endangered.

"That’s because their population has declined by 50% in the last three generations.

"Their natural habitat has become fragmented, smaller and vulnerable due to hunting and poaching.”

It takes time for the new Red Panda pairs to bond and their gestation period is 135 days, so it will be quite a while before anyone can expect to see cubs.