The oldest ever first-time panda mother has welcomed twins into the world at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park.
Ocean Park said 19-year-old Ying Ying gave birth to two baby boys and one female “after more than five hours of labour”.
“We’re so excited to welcome the birth of Hong Kong’s first giant panda twins!” Ocean Park shared in a social media post.
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The park has been trying to successfully breed pandas for many years, making the birth of the twins even more special because female giant pandas only ovulate once a year.
The cubs were born at Ocean Park on August 15, just one day before Ying Ying’s 19th birthday, making her the world’s oldest first-time panda mother.
Twin pandas were born this week to Ying Ying, Hong Kong’s first mother. (Hong Kong Ocean Park)
“This birth is truly unusual given that Ying Ying is the oldest giant panda on record to have given birth successfully for the first time,” the park said in a social media post.
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“As a first-time mother, Yingying was understandably nervous throughout the birth. She spent most of the time lying on the ground and twisting around.”
The twins were born more than an hour apart, but Ocean Park added that “with the reassurance of the park team and CCRCGP experts, Ying Ying was able to safely deliver the twins at 2:05am and 3:27am respectively.”
At 19 years old, Ying Ying is the oldest first-time giant panda mother to give birth to twins. (Hong Kong Ocean Park)
Newborn cubs are “very vulnerable”, especially the female, and the twins are under the 24-hour care and supervision of Ocean Park’s team of animal specialists and veterinarians.
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The female baby panda, whose name has not been released, is said to have a “lower body temperature, is less vocal and eats less food” than her older brother.
The post concludes: “We are all looking forward to meeting the baby giant pandas. Please be patient in the coming months until they make their debut and can officially meet you all!”
