Ying Ying becomes first oldest known panda mother

Ocean Park announced on Friday (Aug. 16) that it is making every effort to guarantee the life of the newborn giant panda twins in Hong Kong, with professionals monitoring the cubs all day and night.

At a press briefing a day after their birth, the park reassured that the twins' survival rate is higher in captivity, compared to those born in the wild.

Howard Chuk, the head of Zoological Operations and Conservation at Ocean Park, noted that experts from the mainland are also playing a role in ensuring the baby pandas' survival.

"Currently, the cubs are actually being handled by the experts from Wolong National Nature Reserve. We make sure the cubs could reach a more stable status," he said, adding that they hope the mother panda, Ying Ying, can raise them later.

"But of course, we do hope that Ying Ying can learn it and experience it, and not jeopardize her welfare management."

Ying Ying gave birth to the twins on the eve of her 19th birthday – the human equivalent of being 57 years old. The delivery makes her the oldest known first-time panda mother.

Meanwhile, Ocean Park's chairman, Paulo Pong, confirmed that the new cubs will stay in Hong Kong.

"Luckily at the same time we're actually receiving two new pandas. So it's perhaps the double gold from the Olympics, perhaps it's the double bronze from the Olympics that gave us even more luck," he said.

"We hope this will bring great fortune to Hong Kong and we hope to continue our journey in our works of conservation and education," Pong added.

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