- It twists and twists - Berlin panda lady is pregnant
About three centimeters in size, they make many people very happy: The panda cubs at the Berlin Zoo were detected for the first time by ultrasound on Sunday. The female panda Meng Meng is pregnant again - with twins.
On Sunday, the tiny panda embryos were 2.5 centimeters in size, and two days later, they had already grown to 2.9 centimeters, according to veterinarian Thomas Hildebrandt, who heads the Reproductive Management department at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin. Even the twin that was not as visible on the ultrasound on Sunday has shown growth today. The growth is rapid, and by the time of birth in 12 to 20 days, the cubs will reach the size of guinea pigs.
"She's a bit grumpy at the moment."
Regular hormone tests and ultrasounds are planned until then, if Meng Meng allows it. "She's a bit grumpy at the moment," says Hildebrandt. She's experiencing some discomfort in her belly, as he explains. "She has to be very convinced to show us her belly." They managed to do so with honey.
"Pandas have a very unusual reproduction mechanism," explains Hildebrandt. For one, the baby - or babies, as is the case in about half of the instances - does not implant itself in the uterine lining right away. And once it does, the growth phase in the uterus is very short.
A panda birth is quite impressive. Like humans, pandas also experience strong labor pains, and the cubs usually arrive at night because pandas feel safest then. "The labor activity is quite visible," says Hildebrandt. It's also evident in the hormone measurements, and the birth happens quickly. "Sometimes the cubs are literally shot out." They usually survive this well, according to Hildebrandt. And Meng Meng, at 11 years old, is in her prime.
One of the fastest-growing mammals
Hormone measurements will be conducted daily in the future, possibly even multiple times a day. "It depends on Meng Meng, because we need her urine," says Jella Wauters, the responsible wildlife endocrinologist at IZW. "Currently, she's eating less, which means she's also urinating less."
At birth, pandas are naked and very helpless. Naturally, pandas give birth to twins about half the time, but they only raise one cub. Both cubs are compared, and usually, the one that cries less is left behind. In the zoo, the panda mother is supported in raising both cubs. "In most cases, if we have two young ones, one is left with the mother, and one is briefly taken out to be measured, weighed, checked, and so on. They're constantly being switched," explains Andreas Knieriem, the director of the Berlin Zoo.
After birth, a panda cub is one of the fastest-growing mammals we know. "Panda bear milk is extremely energy-rich, so the cub needs to be prepared for winter," says Hildebrandt.
Meng Meng will be visible in the enclosure for a while - theoretically. But the animal is currently withdrawing, which is also typical in nature. It's very important for pandas to have no disturbances, says Knieriem. Visitors won't have to wait too long for the cubs: "Not for many months, or until next year, but probably we'll present them earlier," said Knieriem.
He looks optimistically at the first period after the birth. "We know that Meng Meng is a perfect mom. She has raised her first children exemplary." The panda twins Pit and Paule, born in the Berlin Zoo in 2019, were a major attraction for visitors. They were returned to China at the end of last year, as the offspring, like their parents, belong to the People's Republic of China. The country only lends pandas to selected countries. This is also known as "Panda Diplomacy".
"Everyone secretly squeals with delight"
The upcoming panda babies are likely to also be major attractions. Among zoo visitors, Meng Meng's pregnancy is one of the topics of conversation. Knieper explains the fascination as follows: "Somehow, they stir our hearts. It's a pure 'cute schema', of course. They look very fluffy, to be honest, and when you touch them, they're a bit greasy," he says, laughing. "To be frank: When you see these little ones, not right after birth, but when they get their fur and that black and white coloring - everyone secretly squeals with delight, really. It's the same for me."
The following is added to Meng Meng's care plan: Regular ultrasounds will continue until she gives birth, and hormone tests will be conducted daily or multiple times a day to monitor the growth of the panda embryos.
After the panda twins' birth, they will be one of the fastest-growing mammals, growing rapidly due to the energy-rich panda bear milk Meng Meng will provide them.
