August 18th 2024.
After more than ten years of trying, a giant panda has finally been able to successfully give birth to twins. This is a remarkable feat, especially considering that this panda, named Ying Ying, is 19 years old - the equivalent of 57 in human years. The cubs arrived in the early hours of Thursday, just in time for Ying Ying's birthday. Photos released by Hong Kong's Ocean Park show the proud mom moments before she went into labor and her two tiny, pink-colored cubs - the first giant pandas to be born in Hong Kong.
The female cub weighed 122 grams, while the male weighed 112 grams. This happy occasion comes after years of unsuccessful attempts by Ying Ying to mate with her partner, Le Le. The two were gifted to Hong Kong by the Chinese government back in 2007. Paulo Pong, chairman of Ocean Park, expressed his joy in a statement, saying, "This birth is a true rarity, especially considering Ying Ying is the oldest giant panda on record to have successfully given birth for the first time."
However, visitors will have to wait a few months before they can catch a glimpse of the cubs. The newborns are currently receiving round-the-clock intensive care, as they are still very fragile. According to the park, the female cub in particular needs time to stabilize as she has a lower body temperature, weaker cries, and lower food intake. This is not Ying Ying's first pregnancy, as she has previously suffered from a series of miscarriages. Her five-month pregnancy was also a challenging one, according to the park.
As the statement from the park points out, giant pandas have a notoriously difficult time reproducing, especially as they age. This was evident in Ying Ying's behavior as she was understandably nervous throughout the process. She spent most of her time lying on the ground and twisting, showing just how taxing the experience can be for these animals.
Giant pandas have a very short fertile period of just one to three days, and their solitary nature means they rarely mate in the wild. This is why Beijing has been investing in efforts to boost their population, creating reserves in the mountains of southwest China to protect them from extinction. While breeding giant pandas in captivity is notoriously difficult, their numbers in the wild have actually increased in recent years. In fact, in 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature upgraded their status from "endangered" to "vulnerable" after a 17% increase in their population over the previous decade.
Currently, it is estimated that around 1800 giant pandas remain in the wild, with a majority of them living in the mountains of Sichuan, western China. There are also around 600 pandas in captivity, with Beijing loaning some of them to about 20 countries. For the latest updates on this heartwarming story and other breaking news, celebrity gossip, and sports news, follow our WhatsApp channel. Rest assured, your privacy is our top priority, and no comments or algorithms will compromise it.
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