Hong Kong's Ocean Park Welcomes First Locally Born Giant Panda Twins

AP Hong Kong celebrated the birth of its first locally born giant pandas on Thursday. The mother, Ying Ying, became the world's oldest first-time mother of her species, according to the theme park that houses them. Ocean Park announced that Ying Ying gave birth to twins, a male and a female, just a day before her 19th birthday.

Ying Ying and her partner Le Le are the second pair of pandas gifted by China to Hong Kong since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Pandas are often seen as China's unofficial national mascot, and the giant panda loan programme with overseas zoos is known for its role in Beijing's soft-power diplomacy.

Challenges of Panda Reproduction

Ocean Park highlighted the difficulties giant pandas face in reproducing, especially as they age. Panda pregnancies are also hard to detect. Although Ying Ying showed symptoms like decreased appetite and increased need for rest in late July, her pregnancy was only confirmed on Sunday. On Wednesday, her care team noticed labour symptoms, and her amniotic fluid broke at night. After over five hours of labour, the babies were safely delivered Thursday morning.

"Both cubs are currently very fragile and need time to stabilise, especially the female cub who has a lower body temperature, weaker cries, and lower food intake after birth," the park stated. Visitors will have to wait a few months before seeing the cubs publicly.

Gratitude and Support

Ocean Park Corp. chairman Paulo Pong expressed gratitude to the local animal care team and experts from mainland China for their assistance over the years. "The birth is a true rarity, especially considering Ying Ying is the oldest giant panda on record to have successfully given birth for the first time," Pong said.

Hong Kong leader John Lee also thanked the central government for gifting the pandas in 2007, saying it demonstrated Beijing's care and support for Hong Kong. In July, Lee announced that Hong Kong would receive a third pair of pandas from China this year.

Historical Context

The first pair of pandas gifted to Hong Kong, An An and Jia Jia, arrived in 1999. Jia Jia lived until 38 years old in 2016, making her the oldest panda ever in captivity. According to Guinness World Records, wild pandas typically live 18 to 20 years, while those in captivity can live up to 30 years.

Hong Kong operates under its own governing and judicial system. In 2020, China implemented a national security law used to prosecute pro-democracy activists in the city.

The birth of these twin pandas marks a significant milestone for Ocean Park and highlights ongoing cooperation between Hong Kong and mainland China in wildlife conservation efforts.