The animal care team of Ocean Park Hong Kong yesterday (14th) shared with you the journey of taking care of the giant panda dragon and phoenix litter for two months.
According to the team, the adorable twins of giant pandas Ying Ying have been pampered by the city since they were born at Ocean Park on 15 August. During these two months, the care team not only brought them the most professional and attentive care, but also developed a deep bond with the newborn calves.
The giant panda "Jia Jie" (right) has increased his weight to 2.7 kilograms, while "Xi Lao" (left) weighs 2.54 kilograms. (Courtesy Ocean Park)
Under the meticulous care of Ocean Park's animal care team and experts from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CRC), the two baby pandas thrived. The elder sister, who weighed 122 grams at birth, weighed 2.7 kilograms, while the younger brother also weighed 2.54 kilograms from 112 grams at birth. At the beginning of October, the baby pandas finally opened their little eyes and saw their mothers for the first time, and the caregivers who took care of them day and night.
Giant panda Ying Ying (right) and baby panda Sister (left). (Courtesy Ocean Park)
Recently, Ocean Park Hong Kong posted the latest sleeping photos of the panda dragon and phoenix on its Instagram page. The video shows the younger brother's mouth opening wider and wider as he sleeps; And my sister dreamed that she had become a Wolverine, showing her sharp claws, and her mouth was still opening and closing from time to time, as if she was dreaming of a big meal.
It's not too cute!!
Ocean Park is preparing for a panda livestream
Chu Xiaozhong, Head of Zoology and Conservation at Ocean Park, said that the giant pandas were two months old on the 14th, and their voices were majestic and powerful, and their limbs had begun to show their mobility, allowing them to crawl easily in their cribs.
The park hopes to arrange for the two babies to meet with the public as soon as their condition is more stable. It is tentatively estimated that around six months of age, around the Lunar New Year, the public will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of their adorable appearance.
Loading...
In addition, Director Zhu also revealed that Ocean Park is already preparing for the panda live broadcast. If the team's work is relieved and the pressure is reduced, live events are held to show the public their daily clips through CCTV.
Recalling the day of Yingying's birth, Zhu Xiaozhong said: "The prenatal ultrasound examination only showed a fetus, until 'Yingying' gave birth to her sister, and the experts at the panda center continued to carefully observe 'Yingying' and estimated that it may be pregnant with twins. As a result, the younger brother was born a few hours later, and the whole team was pleasantly surprised, and the excitement is still high to this day. We are all very happy to see the healthy growth of our twin babies every day! He also estimated that when the "sister" and "little guy" were 6 months old, they would be able to meet the public around the Lunar New Year.
Ocean Park's Head of Animals and Conservation, Zhu Xiaozhong, measures the weight of the "Slim". (Courtesy Ocean Park)
The team carefully prepares the baby's milk every day
In the early years of life, the two baby pandas relied mainly on the breast milk of Ying Ying and the frozen panda milk collected by the panda center from different places. After a week, they begin to gradually switch to formula. The team carefully prepares the baby's milk every day, every step of the way with the care of a human mother.
Ocean Park's care team breastfeeds a baby panda. (Courtesy Ocean Park)
Yin Manping, Senior Superintendent of Ocean Park's Zoological Department, describes the meticulous daily preparation of milk, from blending, filtering, heating to temperature testing with the back of her hand. The two giant panda babies are now eating three meals a day, 8 hours apart. After feeding, the caregiver will help the baby to burp and spit out excess air to avoid vomiting. They will also closely monitor your baby's health and keep a careful record of all observations.
Ocean Park's care team prepares milk for baby pandas. (Courtesy Ocean Park)
At the same time, the postpartum "Yingying" also needs to be carefully cared for. Eva Woo, Assistant Curator of Zoology at Ocean Park, said, "Ying Ying initially suffered from extreme postpartum exhaustion and lost her appetite, and the team had to do everything they could to entice her to eat. For example, honey, which most pandas like, is not attractive to it at all, so we prepared electrolyzed water for Ying Ying, hoping that the sweetness will make it more water-absorbed. Now the condition of 'Ying Ying' has improved significantly, and the food intake has returned to 7 to 80% of the previous one, and it is able to resume normal activities. We will monitor his condition closely and provide him with daily care including temperature and weight checks. ”
Eva Woo, Assistant Curator of Ocean Park's Zoological Department, takes care of her sister. (Courtesy Ocean Park)
The past two months have been bloody and tearful for the care team, and neither Hu Qiqi nor Yin Manping have left the park in the first four days of the twins' birth, because the days after the birth of the giant pandas are critical periods, and they have put "Yingying" and the twins above everything.
Experts from the Panda Center talk about baby pandas
Two experts from the Panda Centre, Zhang Yahui and Dong Li, have also played an indispensable role in the growth of the baby pandas, guiding Ocean Park's care team to improve their panda rearing skills and lay a solid foundation for the healthy growth of the twins.
Dong Li, an expert from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, had an in-depth understanding of "Yingying" through the introduction of colleagues from the Hong Kong team. He mentioned that "Yingying" used to be a giant panda with full personality and enjoyed the treatment of a princess. But since "Yingying" was successfully promoted to mother, her personality has changed significantly, showing a strong maternal brilliance.
Loading...
When it comes to taking care of her baby, Ying Ying is extremely focused. Whether it is foraging or resting, as long as the baby moves slightly, her attention will immediately shift to the baby, and she will care and care for her wholeheartedly. Dong Li sincerely praised "Yingying" as a very great mother, she cared for the baby wholeheartedly, and interpreted the greatness of maternal love with practical actions.
Source: Hong Kong Commercial Daily
Editor: Shizumi, Zuoichi
Video: Leo
Cover: Yang Liang
Proofreading: Jin Xia
Review: Oriole
Executive Producer: Yushan