WASHINGTON: A artificially inseminated giant panda took U.S.
zoo officials by surprise on Saturday when she gave birth to twins –
more than four hours apart.
Mei Xiang, a star tourist draw in Washington’s National Zoo, gave
birth to her first cub at 5.34 p.m. after her water broke about an hour
beforehand, zoo officials said.
“All of us are thrilled that Mei Xiang has given birth,” said zoo
director Dennis Kelly in a statement before the second cub had arrived.
“The cub is vulnerable at this tiny size but we know Mei is an excellent
mother.”
Kelly told a news conference zoo officials were being cautious and
“keeping their fingers crossed” after the zoo lost a six-day-old cub in
2012.
“This is still a very fragile time for this cub,” he said of the
first arrival, which chief veterinarian Don Neiffer said was showing
healthy signs, including vocalizing.
Zoo officials said Mei Xiang picked up the cub soon after giving
birth and was being “a great mother.” Neiffer said zoo staff would leave
the mother and her cub alone for as long as possible.
“We’re taking a very hands-off approach,” he said. “I’m very much in favor of mom and baby having time together.”
Then, about four and a half hours later, a second cub arrived. One
cub was placed in an incubator in line with protocol when twins are
born.
Mei Xiang previously has given birth to two surviving cubs: Tai Shan in 2005 and Bao Bao in 2013.
Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated on April 26 and 27 with frozen
sperm from Hui Hui, a panda in China, and fresh sperm from the National
Zoo’s Tian Tian. Zoo veterinarians first detected evidence of a fetus
on an ultrasound on Aug. 19.
Kelly said the gender of the cubs, or which of the sperm donors is
the father, will be determined later. He added that no decision had been
made about naming the cubs.
Giant pandas, one of the world’s most endangered species, are known
for the striking black and white markings that lend their eyes special
resonance for human admirers.
With a very low reproductive rate, particularly in captivity, their
natural home is in a few mountain ranges in central China. There are
about 1,600 giant pandas known to be living in the wild and some 300 in
captivity, mostly in China. – Reuters