It’s twins! Macau’s giant panda Xin Xin delivers two cubs 45 minutes apart
New mum and older newborn in ‘good condition’ while younger one to be observed 24/7
Macau’s giant panda Xin Xin, a gift from the mainland in 2014, gave birth to twin cubs on Sunday, but one of them will need extra care in the weeks ahead.
The SAR’s civic affairs bureau issued a statement saying Xin Xin had given birth to the first cub, weighing 135 grams, at 3.45pm. The second cub was born about 45 minutes later and weighed in at 53.8 grams – less than half its sibling’s weight.
The statement described the cubs as “pink in colour and resembling mice”, while “Xin Xin looked very proficient with the cubs and showed her motherly nature”. It was later revealed that they were both males.
Those looking after the pandas are uncertain how Xin Xin conceived as she mated naturally with her partner Kai Kai and artificial insemination was also used.
Huang Wenjun of the Sichuan- based Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding said the health of the larger panda cub was good, but the smaller one was underweight and, drawing on previous cases, this could pose a challenge to its survival.
But he added: “At our base, a 51-ounce cub managed to grow up [healthily], so in this respect we do have some experience,” he said. “We will make the utmost effort to ensure these two cubs are healthy.”
