A female panda born July 3 will arrive soon from Zoo Boise in Ohio. A male mate will be joining her from Knoxville Zoological Gardens in Tennessee.
Zoo president and chief executive Scott Mitchell says red pandas typically breed in February. It is hoped the new pair will be ready to breed in February 2010.
The Erie Zoo's female red panda and two cubs will be moved to other zoos once the new pair arrives. The cubs' father has already shipped out.
There are believed to be fewer than 2,500 adult red pandas in the world.
