Giant Panda Baby Born in China

A giant panda “baby boom” is underway in China for the endangered species, with two sets of twins arriving: one set in late July and the other set this past week. First-time mother Shuixiu — or Ju Xiao — gave birth to twins in late July at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in the Sichuan province of southwest China. Here, she gently carries one of the panda twins.

This cub’s weight and gender were unknown when the images were taken, as giant pandas are fiercely protect of newborns, and Ju Xiao wouldn’t let staff near the baby. As is often the case with pandas, Ju Xiao abandoned the second cub, which was taken to a panda nursery. Below, the baby panda bear takes its first breaths. These twins were among seven born recently at the China Conservation and Research Center in Wolong.

Meanwhile, on Friday, twin baby pandas were also born on Friday afternoon to a panda named Qizhen, in Chengdu, which is the capital of the Sichuan province in southwest China.

Giant pandas are among the world’s most endangered species. Only 1,590 pandas live in the wild, mostly in the mountains of Sichuan, with 210 more in captivity. No one seems to know the cause of the giant panda “baby boom.”

Read about the popularity of dyed dogs in China.

Photo credit: Reuters and www.news.cn

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