The first set of twin pandas born in South Korea through natural breeding marks a significant achievement in the collaborative research between China and South Korea regarding this endangered species.
Samsung C&T announced that mother panda Ai Bao (9 years old), residing at Everland amusement park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, gave birth to twin female pandas on July 7. These twin pandas are the offspring of Ai Bao and her partner Le Bao (10 years old). Both pandas were sent from China in 2016.
“Ai Bao gave birth to the two pandas at 4:52 AM and 6:39 AM, a total of one hour and 47 minutes apart. The larger one weighed 180 grams at birth, while the smaller one weighed 140 grams,” said Samsung C&T.
Mother panda Ai Bao and her twin cubs. (Photo: Samsung C&T).
An Everland manager stated: “Both Ai Bao and the twin cubs are in good health. Ai Bao is skillfully caring for her babies using her parenting experience from when she was with Fu Bao, her firstborn, who was born in July 2020.”
According to Korea Times, the chance of a panda giving birth to twins is estimated to be only 40 to 50%. Pandas are also known to be extremely difficult to conceive and give birth. Everland notes that they have only one breeding season each year, typically around March or April, when they can conceive for only one to three days.
With this achievement, Everland becomes the first zoo in South Korea to successfully breed a pair of twin pandas through natural means. Everland analyzed Ai Bao’s hormonal changes through blood and urine tests to determine the best time for successful mating, which led to natural mating in mid-February.
Since then, the zoo observed that Ai Bao exhibited similar signs to when she was pregnant with Fu Bao in 2020, such as increased sleep and poor appetite. The zoo’s dedicated team closely monitored Ai Bao’s health and provided careful care to ensure a smooth delivery. This giant panda is under special observation by a panda expert from China.
Mother panda Ai Bao with her newborn cub. (Photo: Samsung C&T)
“We are very happy that the first set of twin pandas has been born in South Korea after Fu Bao. We will take great care of them to ensure they become a panda family that brings hope and happiness to many,” said Mr. Kang Cheol-won, a panda caretaker at Everland.
“The birth of this set of twin pandas is another important milestone in our collaborative research on pandas in China and South Korea. We will continue to expand the zoo’s role in conserving endangered species by further enhancing our animal care expertise and breeding research,” said Mr. Chung Dong-hee, director of Everland Zoo.
Everland further stated that they will announce when the twin pandas are ready to make their public debut in the near future.
