Chengdu panda center welcomes new cub
Print Edition
A 7-YEAR-OLD giant panda gave birth to a cub at China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas on Saturday. Keepers do not know which male fathered the cub, or even the gender of the newborn.
This is the first cub of the mother Shu Qin. She showed strong maternal and nursing instincts, by immediately cuddling the cub and hiding it from keepers after her delivery.
The keepers could only judge that the cub was healthy as they heard it crying.
Luo Bo, deputy director of the center in Chengdu, said Shu Qin mated with two male pandas — Jin Ke and Xiang Ge — in March. On June 19, there was a noticeable change to her appetite, a sign of pregnancy on pandas.
Keepers have monitored Shu Qin since July 13.
This is the first panda cub born as a result of natural mating in the center this year.
Most giant pandas in captivity are not good breeders. China has developed supportive breeding techniques to sustain the critically endangered species. However, only 24 percent of females in captivity give birth, posing a serious threat to the survival of the species.
Panda cubs born through supported breeding are often born in twins or even sometimes triplets. It is currently panda reproduction season. Experts at the center said they have gone to great lengths to take care of the mothers and their cubs.
There are currently three other pandas — Xi Dou, Cui Cui and Mei Xi — showing signs of pregnancy in the center. The center says it lets the pandas attempt natural mating first.
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