Ying Ying, the oldest panda bear, broke a record by giving birth to twins

Panda bear Ying Ying She became the world’s oldest first-time giant panda mother after giving birth last ThursdayAugust 15, to a pair of twins in Hong Kong, China.

Ying Ying gave birth to the puppies just one day before her 19th birthday – equivalent to 57 human years – the South China Morning Post reported.

Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, where Ying Ying and her partner live, Le Le described the birth as “a real rarity.”

“As a first-time mother, Ying Ying was very nervous. She spent a lot of time lying on the floor and writhing around,” the park explained in a statement released late Thursday.

Until now, the couple had failed to conceive despite several rounds of natural mating and an artificial insemination procedure that took place in 2023.

According to the park, Ying Ying began showing symptoms of pregnancy, including decreased appetite, increased resting time and changes in hormone levels, in late July.

However, the pregnancy was not detected until last Sunday, when the park’s veterinarians confirmed it through an ultrasound.

During this week, Ying Ying showed symptoms such as increased activity and irritability, and finally gave birth to the twin cubs just after midnight, after more than five hours of labor.

“This birth is a real rarity, especially considering that Ying Ying is the oldest living giant panda “The first recorded successful birth for the first time,” Ocean Park President Paulo Pong Kin-yee said in the statement.

The female calf, weighing 122 grams, was born first, followed by her brother, weighing 112 grams.

The park noted that the cubs are “very fragile” and need time to stabilize, especially the female, who had a lower body temperature, He had weaker cries and was eating less.

Both puppies They are now under intensive care 24 hours a day. and will spend a few months under observation.

Local Chief Executive John Lee commented on the news to the press, expressing his gratitude to China for gifting giant pandas to Hong Kong, which “fully demonstrates their care and support for the city.”

“We would also like to thank the Ocean Park team for taking good care of An An, Jia Jia, Ying Ying and Le Le over the years, as well as the experts from the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas for their continued support, which allowed Ying Ying and Le Le to give birth to this pair of cubs,” he added.