Ocean Park’s giant panda Ying Ying gives birth to Hong Kong’s first panda twins

Great news: Ocean Park’s giant pandas Ying Ying and Le Le have become parents! In the early hours of August 15, Ying Ying gave birth to giant panda twins at Ocean Park.

After more than a decade of attempts at reproducing, Ying Ying has given birth to a pair of twins. The giant panda gave birth just a day before her 19th birthday, making her the world’s oldest first-time panda mother. Moreover, this occasion marks the first time a pair of giant panda twins was born in Hong Kong.

“The babies’ arrival adding to the new giant pandas soon to arrive in Hong Kong are thrilling news for Ocean Park and all of Hong Kong,” said Paulo Pong, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation. “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. I would like to express my gratitude to the Park’s animal care and veterinary team for their tireless dedication to Ying Ying and Le Le.”

Overcoming a decade of struggle

Giant pandas are notoriously known to have difficulties in reproducing. This only gets worse as the pandas get older. Since Ying Ying and Le Le’s arrival in Hong Kong in 2007, the pair have tried to mate several times to no avail. Last year, Ocean Park flew in reproduction experts from Mainland China to aid in artificial insemination. Unfortunately, that failed too.

At the end of July, the caretakers at Ocean Park noticed Ying Ying’s symptoms of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. Symptoms include decreased appetite, increased rest time, and changes in hormonal levels. However, panda pregnancy is not readily detectable. The pregnancy was only confirmed on August 11 via ultrasound scanning, although the Park decided to keep it under wraps.

Just a few days later, on August 14, Ying Ying began exhibiting labour symptoms. These include increased activity and irritability. Her amniotic fluid sac broke around 10 p.m. that day. The Park’s team and experts from China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda helped her through her labour process, which took over five hours. Finally, she gave birth to the giant panda twins at 2:05 a.m. and 3:27 a.m. on August 15 in Ocean Park. The Park broke the happy news to the public via Instagram.

Meeting the new giant panda twins at Ocean Park

Visitors who are eager to meet the new cubs will have to wait for a few more months. Currently, the twins are very fragile and need time to stabilise. The female cub, which was born first, weighs 122 g. The younger male cub weighs only 112 g.

Both babies are currently under 24-hour intensive care. The Park’s animal care and veterinary team are taking care of the two cubs to ensure their health and safety. The female cub, especially, is getting more care as it has a lower body temperature, weaker cries, and lower food intake after birth.

Stay tuned for more details on when the giant panda twins will make their debut in Ocean Park.

(Images: Ocean Park Hong Kong)