Ying Ying the Giant Panda Becomes Oldest Panda Mom to Give Birth to Twins in Hong Kong
Ying Ying, a giant panda at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, has made history by becoming the oldest known panda mother to give birth to twins. The cubs were born just before Ying Ying’s 19th birthday, which is comparable to age 57 in humans.
The cubs, a female weighing 122 grams and a male weighing 112 grams, were born after years of unsuccessful mating attempts with her companion Le Le. Ying Ying had previously suffered several miscarriages.
Paulo Pong, chairman of Ocean Park, stated, “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.”
The park noted that both cubs are very fragile and need time to stabilize, especially the female cub who has a lower body temperature, weaker cries, and lower food intake after birth.
Giant pandas have a notoriously difficult time reproducing, especially as they age. They prefer to live alone and only have one reproductive phase per year, lasting one to three days. Originally from southwest China, efforts have been made to increase their numbers through large reserves and conservation programs.
Although giant pandas are difficult to produce in captivity, their numbers in the wild have recently rebounded. Approximately 1,800 pandas are thought to be left in the wild, primarily in the Sichuan Mountains in western China. Beijing lends some of the 600 pandas kept in captivity to roughly 20 different nations.
Doubts Revealed
Ying Ying -: Ying Ying is the name of a giant panda who lives in Hong Kong’s Ocean Park. She recently became the oldest panda mom to give birth to twins.
Giant Panda -: A giant panda is a type of bear that is black and white and lives in China. They are known for eating bamboo and are considered a symbol of wildlife conservation.
Hong Kong -: Hong Kong is a city and special administrative region in China. It is known for its tall buildings and busy harbor.
Ocean Park -: Ocean Park is a large amusement park and zoo in Hong Kong. It has many animals, including giant pandas like Ying Ying.
Twins -: Twins are two babies born at the same time from the same mother. In this case, Ying Ying gave birth to one male and one female panda cub.
Miscarriages -: A miscarriage is when a baby dies in the mother’s tummy before it is born. Ying Ying had several miscarriages before successfully giving birth to her twins.
Conservation -: Conservation means protecting animals, plants, and natural resources. Giant panda conservation efforts aim to help pandas survive and increase their population.
