- "Presence Confirmed" - Newborn Panda Cubs at Berlin Zoo
Check out the tiny bundles of joy, smaller than a hamster and undeniably cute - the newborn panda cubs at the Berlin Zoo have made their arrival. The Berlin Zoo declared on Thursday at 13:03 and 14:19, that panda mom Meng Meng had given birth to her two offspring. The statement continued, "Both cubs are in good health and are receiving around-the-clock care from their mother and the skilled panda team." Now, all that's left is to keep our fingers crossed for the first critical days.
The cubs weigh 169 grams and 136 grams, and measure around 14 centimeters long. They are almost bare, deaf, blind, and have pink skin - they won't develop their iconic black and white fur until later.
"I'm grateful that both cubs were born healthy," shared veterinarian and zoo director Dr. Andreas Knieriem in a press release. "The newborns appear lively, and Meng Meng is displaying extraordinary maternal care - she's tending to her cubs tenderly."
Hormone testing every four hours
Wildlife endocrinologist Jella Wauters from the Department of Reproductive Biology at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research had set up her mobile lab at the zoo on August 18, anticipating the birth. She has monitored several giant panda births and conducted hormone tests on urine samples every four hours. This enabled her to predict the birth window reliably, the zoo reported. "Wauters was spot on again with the birth date," Knieriem added. Even he, he stated, is consistently amazed by how advanced hormone research has become.
Two professionals from the Chengdu Panda Base in China are assisting the zoo in caring for the cubs. They are highly experienced, having been involved in approximately 20 births each year, the zoo shared. In collaboration with the zoo team, they examine the incubator and monitor the temperature of the babies, weigh and measure them – "just like in a baby station in a Berlin hospital." The incubator was a generous donation from the DRK clinics.
Pregnancy period of 149 days
Meng Meng was artificially inseminated on March 26. On August 11, two heartbeats were detected by ultrasound – and just eleven days later, the cubs were born. The pregnancy period was 149 days, according to the zoo. Meng Meng and the cubs will spend the initial days in the secluded area of the panda enclosure and will not be visible to zoo visitors. Panda father Jiao Qing, as is common in nature, is not involved in raising the cubs and can be seen by visitors in the Panda Garden.
Pandas naturally give birth to twins around half of the time but only raise one. In the zoo, Meng Meng is being supported in raising both cubs. Panda milk is incredibly rich in energy, and following birth, a panda cub is one of the quickest-growing mammals.
In 2019, Meng Meng gave birth to Pit and Paule, who were beloved by zoo visitors but had to return to China at the end of last year. Like their parents, the little pandas belong to the People's Republic of China, which lends them to selected countries as part of 'panda diplomacy.'
According to the zoo, there are less than 2,000 adult giant pandas in their natural habitat. Therefore, each new cub represents a crucial addition to the conservation efforts for this endangered species.
The other two professional panda caretakers from the Chengdu Panda Base in China are also providing round-the-clock care for the newborns, having assisted in over 40 births each year. Due to hormone testing and monitoring, wildlife endocrinologist Jella Wauters accurately predicted the birth window.
