An endangered species has just increased by two with the birth of two Nepalese red panda cubs at Auckland Zoo.

The twins were born last Thursday and zoo staff report mum and the cubs are doing well.

The twins are the fifth and sixth offspring of six-year-old mum Bo and the last of 15-year-old Sagar, who had to be euthanised last month due to an untreatable condition brought about by old age. .

Carnivore team leader, Lauren Booth, says the average lifespan of a red panda is eight to 12 years, so Sagar reached a great old age for a red panda.

Staff don't yet know the sex of the cubs - they're waiting a few weeks for them to settle before doing a full vet check.