Nebraska

Pictures of adorable endangered red panda triplets born at Nebraska zoo

Published

1 year ago

November 8, 2024

Pictures of adorable endangered red panda triplets born at Nebraska zoo

The Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska announced the arrival of three red panda cubs on Thursday, born on August 10, marking a major success for the zoo’s conservation program.

The triplets—two males and one female—were born to third-time mom Tián and second-time dad Rowan. Though the cubs have yet to be named, their healthy birth represents a happy moment in efforts to conserve the endangered red panda species.

“Red pandas are the smaller cousins of giant pandas—they’re not raccoons,” Ruth Marcec-Greaves, the zoo’s general curator, told Newsweek.

Native to high-altitude temperate forests across the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, red pandas face increasing threats from habitat destruction and climate change, which are reducing their cold, bamboo-rich forest homes.

A photo of the red panda triplets taken on November 7. The two male and one female red panda cubs were born at Lincoln Children’s Zoo on August 10 to third-time mom Tián and second-time…

Lincoln Children’s Zoo

“Their habitat is slowly diminishing and the change in climate is definitely threatening them,” Marcec-Greaves added.

The Lincoln Children’s Zoo, which is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan Program, has carefully crafted an environment that allows Tián to raise her cubs naturally.

Zookeepers provided six nest boxes lined with bamboo and wood wool, mimicking the tree hollows or rock crevices a red panda mother would typically use.

Red pandas are known to be vigilant and adaptive mothers, often moving their cubs to different nests for protection or when facing stressors.

Red panda triplets — Newborn red panda triplets on a bed of straw. The triplets were born in August, though the zoo only announced their birth on Thursday.
Lincoln Children’s Zoo

In this secure setting, Tián has chosen her preferred nest box and has been diligently caring for the cubs, who are now 3 months old and beginning to explore their environment by learning to climb.

While triplet red panda births are not uncommon, the survival of all three triplets is a noteworthy achievement, attributed to Tián’s attentive care.

“We’re very, very excited in this case that our mother was just such a good mother. She successfully raised all three of these without any help,” Marcec-Greaves said.

As a species classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, red pandas are at high risk of extinction, with populations in the wild halving over the past 20 years because of ongoing threats such as habitat loss.

“The birth of these triplets is important for animal conservation efforts, and the red pandas at the Zoo help to raise awareness of the threats their counterparts face in the wild,” Evan Killeen, CEO of Lincoln Children’s Zoo, said in a statement.

While the cubs are not yet on public display, the zoo expects to debut them by December. In the meantime, zoo staff hope these new additions will inspire a new generation of conservationists.

“Where else are you going to see a red panda? Not everyone can get to the Himalayas to see them in the wild,” Marcec-Greaves said. “In a zoo where we can tell you about them, tell you about their lives, and you can see them playing together, that’s a huge, huge help to their conservation.”

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Nebraska

What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

Published

5 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

Iowa coach Ben McCollum met with the media following his team’s 77-71 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Sweet 16. The Cornhuskers led by three at the half but Iowa was able to outscore Nebraska 34-25 in the second half.

Pryce Sandfort led all scorers with 25 points while shooting 8 of 13 from the field and 6 of 10 from the 3-point line. Bennett Stirtz led the Hawkeyes with 20 points and played for all 40 minutes.

Iowa shot 52% (27-52) from the floor, 43% (13-30) from beyond the arc and 83% (10-12) from the free throw line. Nebraska struggled shooting 41% (24-58) from the field, 34% (13-38) from the 3-point line and 91% (10-11) from the charity stripe.

The Hawkeyes’ head coach acknowledged that his team had a poor start but a great finish and said that his team will need to play better to advance beyond the Elite Eight.

Yeah, I think to start we weren’t fantastic to start. They had an elite game plan to start. They played with elite pace. They adjusted their defense quite a bit. I think a lot of people will talk about the rivalry. I was around it when I was in Iowa, you know, and grew up in Iowa and understand the rivalry and whatnot. It’s nice to have — I guess if you would a call it rival that runs such a class program.
I think Coach Hoiberg, they have got great kids. They completely turned everything around from the previous season, and they have absolutely nothing to hang their heads about or anything. I have the utmost respect for them, all their players, and especially Coach Hoiberg. Heck of a season. I know it’s no consolation, but we still want to beat ’em every time and they want to beat us every time.
But from and internal perspective, there’s not a lot of bad blood there. It’s actually a lot of respect. I was really pleased with our second-half performance. I thought we actually decided we were going to try — not try. They had a lot to do with it, but kind of. Yeah, they’re smiling over there because they saw me break my marker.
And I thought our kids did a good job of executing offensively in both halves. We spent a lot of time trying to make sure that we could score, and you saw the result of that. We didn’t defend. But we were able to score, so we were able to stay in the game long enough and then get enough stops and had some big possessions down the stretch. Really good program win for everybody, coaches, managers, everybody included.

Iowa advances to the Elite Eight with the victory. Nebraska’s season ends with a record of 28-7.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

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Nebraska

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appoints Antonio Gomez to Racing and Gaming Commission

Published

17 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appoints Antonio Gomez to Racing and Gaming Commission

LINCOLN, Neb — Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed Antonio Gomez of Jackson to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, adding a longtime Siouxland business leader and public servant to the panel.

Commission members serve four-year terms and are subject to approval by the Nebraska Legislature.

Gomez launched Gomez Pallets in South Sioux City in 1983. He has since retired from daily operations, but last year the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce recognized him with the W. Edwards Deming Business Leadership and Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.

Gomez previously served on the Nebraska Commission on Latino Americans from 1981 to 2002. He also served as a Dakota County commissioner for 12 years and was on the Foundation Board for Northeast Community College.

Gomez’s appointment is effective April 1.

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CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

The Nebraska Cornhuskers will face the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. This is the Huskers’ first Sweet 16 in program history, while Iowa is playing in its first Sweet 16 since 1999.

Nebraska defeated Vanderbilt 74-72 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa advanced after beating the defending national champion, the Florida Gators, 73-72.

CBS Sports reporter Isaac Trotter broke down Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup. Trotter started by looking at the two previous matchups in this series.

These teams have played twice. Iowa won at home in a 57-52 rockfight. Nebraska returned the favor by winning at home, 84-75 in overtime, in another to-the-death brawl.

It’s no secret that Nebraska’s defense caused significant problems for the Iowa offense in the second game, and if the Hawkeyes are going to win the rubber match, Trotter believes that turnovers will be the key.

There are no secrets in the rubber match. Nebraska’s no-middle defense has given Iowa real problems both times. The Hawkeyes turned it over 20% of the time in Game 1 and 26% of the time in Game 2. That can’t happen in the third encounter.

CBS Sports believes that Iowa has the best player on the floor in Bennett Stirtz, but Trotter also believes that Nebraska’s defense is just too much in the end for Iowa.

Iowa has the best player on the floor, Bennett Stirtz, and can hurt Nebraska on the glass, but the Huskers get the nod because of this pick-and-roll defense. You have to be able to guard ball screens effectively to shut down Iowa, and Nebraska has been an elite pick-and-roll defense, rating in the 99th percentile nationally, per Synergy.

In the end, Trotter selected Nebraska as his pick. Should the Huskers advance to the Elite Eight, Nebraska would play the winner of the Illinois-Houston game. Nebraska-Iowa play in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. CT on TBS.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

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