Pandas coming home | Twin brothers, opposite styles: Walking into journeys of Meng Xiang & Meng Yuan
Like humans, pandas also have twins. Recently, on August 22, the giant panda Meng Meng, residing in Germany, gave birth to a second set of twins. The two older brothers of these two cubs are the twin pandas Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan, who were also born in Germany in 2019 and are now enjoying their life back in China, Chengdu. What is it like for pandas to have twin brothers? What are their personalities and preferences? Recently, a journalist spoke with their keeper to learn about their happy life after returning home.
On September 1, 2019 (August 31 local time), Meng Meng gave birth to a pair of twins, making them the first set of giant panda twins born in Germany. In December of the same year, the director of the Berlin Zoo announced the names of the male pandas—Meng Xiang (dream realization) and Meng Yuan (Dream aspiration).
While the twin pandas may seem quite similar to visitors, their keeper can easily tell them apart. "Meng Xiang has a longer mouth, enjoys exercising, climbing trees, and taking baths, often splashing water with his paws while making sounds. In contrast, Meng Yuan has a shorter mouth and a quieter personality; he prefers to eat and then sleep." Besides bamboo, the brothers also have different preferences for supplementary food.
In the keeper's view, panda babies require a lot of love and patience from their caretakers, just like human babies. "When they throw tantrums or play roughly, we separate them with bamboo, apples, or honey—similar to how one would comfort a child during a quarrel."
Notably, the brothers from Germany live next to Yuan Meng, a panda that returned from France. Their enclosures have a small door between them, and when the weather is cool, the little ones gather together to make sounds, as if having a chat, creating a lively atmosphere.
To the German tourists and fans who miss Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan, the keeper wants to convey, "They eat well and sleep well every day. We welcome everyone to visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see the pandas. We will take good care of the brothers."
Panda Profile of Returned Overseas Panda
- Name: Meng Xiang, Meng Yuan
- Gender: Male
- Date of Birth: September 1, 2019
- Return Date to China: December 17, 2023
- Place of Birth: Berlin Zoo, Germany
- Current Residence: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Family Members:
- Mother Meng Meng
- Father Jiao Qing
- Brother Meng Xiang
- Brother Meng Yuan
- Newborn panda twins
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