PANDA-MONIUM is expected at Blackpool Zoo later this month when three very special and cuddly creatures arrive.

The award-winning animal park has been chosen to be the new home for three rare red pandas. Zoo management and staff are looking forward to meeting the friendly animals and are busy preparing a suitable habitat for them which will mimic their natural environment as much as possible.

The pandas are an endangered species and part of an international conservation programme. They are coming from a zoo in the south of England.

These are the first pandas to arrive in the North West and Zoo spokesperson Tony Williams said: "This is a great honour and an exciting new addition. We have several other developments in the pipeline for the next few months as Blackpool Zoo continues to strive to establish its position as being one of the best animal parks in Europe. Our new panda exhibit will be a very close encounter experience. These animals are very inquisitive and usually quite friendly. I'm sure they will become a popular favourite with visitors of all ages. The three we are getting are all one-year-old males and we intend to introduce some females in a year or so and start a breeding programme.

Red pandas can live from between 12 to 14 years in captivity, although their natural habitat is in the Himalayas and South West China. The main reason they have become endangered is that they are such friendly and cuddly animals that they have been sought after as pets in certain countries.

Their diet consists mostly of bamboo, although they will eat eggs and small animals. They will be situated near the sea lion pool in the zoo.

Vicky, the zoo's favourite orang-utan, is expecting her second baby in June and there are plans to fit a web camera in her enclosure.