The American zoo in Washington D.C announced that the female panda had the first twin on Saturday at 5:35pm and the younger sibling was welcomed about four-and-a-half hours at 10:07pm. The tiny cubs’ births were both captured on video.
“We have a cub! Xiang gave birth at 5:35pm and reacted to the cub by picking it up,” the zoo announced on Facebook.
Mei is already the proud mum to Tai Shan, born in 2005, and Bao Bao, born in 2013.
Meanwhile zoo keepers weren’t even sure if their 17-year-old panda was actually pregnant.
The Smithsonian first announced the baby news earlier this week, noting it could however be a pseudopregnancy – also known as a false pregnancy – a condition which occurs in animals.
Mei’s twin arrival was a welcomed surprise for the zoo.
The zoo admitted that they feared the older animal could run the risk of miscarrying or reabsorbing the foetus back into her body. They maintained that they were “waiting and hoping for a healthy panda cub.”
Thankfully it was happy news for the zoo and Panda Mei.
On Facebook, the zoo wrote: “The panda team retrieved one of the cubs per ‘twin hand rearing’ protocol and has placed it in an incubator. It appears to be in good health. ”
Dennis Kelly, the zoo director said at an evening news conference following the first cub’s birth that he was “so happy, so pleased, so excited.”
Mei is already a mum to two cubs and no doubt she’ll adore her two new babies.
“All of us are thrilled that Mei Xiang has given birth,” Dennis added. “The cub is vulnerable at this tiny size, but we know Mei is an excellent mother.”
And it’s been one busy week for the mum with her second cub, Bao celebrating turning two.
The Smithsonian treated the fluffy cub with a traditional frozen Popsicle cake featuring her favourite things including honey, apple juice, apple sauce, bamboo, carrots, and beet juice.
Baby Bao celebrates turning two. Look at that smile!
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
