Giant panda twins born in Korea

Social Affairs

Published: 11 Jul. 2023, 11:51 Updated: 12 Jul. 2023, 18:08

Giant panda twins born in Korea

Mom panda Ai Bao and her two twin cubs [SAMSUNG C&T]

Twin panda cubs were born in Everland, Korea's largest theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi.

Panda dad Le Bao and panda mom Ai Bao gave birth to twin girls Friday after an hour-long labor, Samsung C&T's resort group, the amusement park's operator, announced Tuesday.

The 180-gram (6.34-ounce) elder sister was born at 4:52 a.m., and the younger sibling was born at 6:39 a.m. weighing 140 grams.

"The mother and the cubs are all in a healthy condition," an Everland spokesperson said.

"Ai Bao is giving good care to her cubs, putting her experience with Fu Bao to use."

Fu Bao is the twins' older sister, born in July 2020, the first giant panda born in Korea through natural breeding.

Everland earned the title of the first Korean zoo to deliver naturally-bred giant panda twins successfully.

Ai Bao and Fu Bao, when Fu Bao was 100 days old [SAMSUNG C&T]

Giant pandas, designated "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, rarely get pregnant in the wild because their childbearing period lasts under three days in spring each year.

There are some 1,800 giant pandas left in the wild according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Everland recently moved Ai Bao to an indoor facility for intimate care when it became aware that she was sleeping longer and eating less than usual.

The twins will receive intensive care behind closed doors until they grow old enough to be viewed by the public.

Fu Bao was first revealed to Everland visitors when she was six months old, able to walk on four paws and eat bamboo.

Panda World, where the Bao family lives, is one of the main attractions in Everland. It became more popular in recent months when panda keeper Kang Chul-won appeared on a TV show and talked about his destined parting with Fu Bao.

Fu Bao is set to move to China before July next year because all cub pandas born outside China have to return to the country before they turn four when the bears become sexually mature.