It is not clear what the sex of the animals is. The two youngsters have not yet been named. It will remain that way for the next 100 days. According to the zoo, Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, is making up the names for the twins.
Vulnerable population
Until recently, giant pandas were an endangered species. Earlier this month, China the species of the list, but the country still calls the population vulnerable. There are about 1800 giant pandas in the wild and about 500 in captivity.
Since the 1950s, China has had a breeding program with pandas in captivity. Animals are also loaned to international zoos. As a diplomatic gesture (‘panda diplomacy’) but also in the hope that panda cubs will be born.
In the Netherlands that was successful last year. Xing Ya and Wu Wen got the male Fan Xing in Ouwehands Zoo. That was the first time in the Netherlands. All three pandas remain the property of China.
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