Veröffentlicht am: 24.09.2024 um 08:49 Uhr:
Zoo Berlin: Two pounds of panda-cuteness
» Drinking, sleeping, growing and lots of cuddles with mum Meng Meng (11) - that's what daily panda life at Zoo Berlin looks like at the moment. The two panda cubs, who were born on 22 August, are developing rapidly: In the meantime, both have even cracked the 1kg mark. Size is a helpful distinguishing criterion for the panda team. The larger and first-born weighs 1202 grams, the smaller 1140 grams. They have doubled their weight in the last 14 days. Biologist and panda curator Dr Florian Sicks is very pleased: ‘We are completely happy with the great development of the two cubs. Following the colouring of their skin, they are now also growing black fur. Later, the skin underneath will turn pink again. So far, both are still feeding exclusively on their mother's milk. However, the drinking phases with their mother are now shorter, but the cuddling phases are longer. We can now also observe how Meng Meng instinctively stimulates the digestion of the two cubs through extensive grooming sessions.’ The panda cubs now only drink three to four times a day, about 70-80 ml each time. Their eyes are still closed.
The young panda family will spend the ‘familiarisation period’ in the rear area of the panda stable for the time being and will not be visible to zoo guests for the time being. Even in the wild, male pandas are not involved in rearing cubs. Panda dad Jiao Qing (14) can therefore still be seen eating bamboo and relaxing in the Panda Garden.
Background
Without conservation measures, the giant panda would most likely already be extinct. The giant panda is a unique specialist with specific needs. Thanks to intensive measures against poaching and the promotion of protected areas and connecting corridors, the population has recovered somewhat, but the giant panda is classified as ‘endangered’ on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with just under 2,000 individuals in its natural habitat. The fragmentation of its habitat by roads, railway lines and agricultural land is a major problem for this solitary animal. «
Source: Press release of the Berlin Zoological Garden from 19 September 2024