On the morning of August 2, giant pandas Jing Jing and Si Yuan gave birth to male twins, the third and fourth pairs of twins born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in this year. The birth of the four panda cubs coincided with China’s successful bid for 2022 Olympic Winter Games. They are precious gifts from Jing Jing, one of the mascots of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and Si Yuan nicknamed “White Gloves” to our great motherland!

As described by Yang Kuixing, a giant panda expert from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, this is the first time Jing Jing delivered cubs. She began eating less, sleeping more, and moving less on July 1, and displayed parturient signs like getting agitated and chewing the wooden bed on July 27. At 04:10 a.m. of August 2, her amniotic fluid ran out for the first time. At 05:40 a.m., she successfully gave birth to the big cub, male, weighing 171.5g; and at 06:12 a.m., delivered the small cub, male, weighing 163.5g. Now, the twins are vivacious and healthy with all good body character indexes.

This is the second time that Si Yuan has delivered cubs. She began eating less, sleeping more, and moving less on July 5, and started licking her vulva, getting anxious and displaying other parturient signs on July 28. At 08:20 a.m. of August 2, her amniotic fluid ran out. At 11:12 a.m., she successfully delivered the big cub, male, weighing 174.1g; and at 11:35 a.m., delivered the small cub, male, weighing 180.4g. Now, the twins are vivacious and healthy with all good body character indexes.

As of August 2, 2015, there have been 5 deliveries and 9 panda cubs at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. As of this date, 165 pandas were born through 138 deliveries at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, forming the world’s largest population (existing 144) of giant pandas subject to captive breeding (including some wild-born pandas).

Jing Jing’s babies

Jing Jing holding her baby in her arms

Jing Jing’s babies

Jing Jing’s babies: the small one above and the big one below

Jing Jing’s babies: the small one above and the big one below

Si Yuan holding her baby in her arms

Si Yuan

Four panda cubs

Four panda cubs