Perth Zoo went on cute-alert this week with their new Nepalese red panda cub passing its first health check with flying colours.

But while the little one's clean bill of health was a cause for celebration, the check-up coincided with the rescue of six red pandas bound for the illegal wildlife trade.

The red panda cub sailed through his health check at Perth Zoo this week. Credit:Alex Asbury.

The six were taken into the care of one of Perth Zoo's conservation partners, Free the Bears, after being seized from traffickers on the border of Laos and China. Tragically only three survived their first night due to severe stress and potential exposure to disease.

Perth Zoo keeper Marty Boland said the rescue highlighted how vital coordinated zoo breeding programs were for the survival of the endangered species.