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Since their birth in Ocean Park on 15 August, Ying Ying’s adorable giant panda cubs have captivated the city and the world. This is not just a story of expert care, but of an incredible bond between dedicated caregivers and two precious newborns.
Thanks to the tireless care of Ocean Park’s animal care team and experts from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), the cubs are growing stronger every day. The little girl whose birth weight was 122g, now weighs in at 2.7kg while the brother has grown from 112g to 2.54kg.
In early October, the twins finally opened those tiny eyes. The cubs got their first glimpse of their loving mother and the devoted faces that cared for them day and night. Each milestone fills the Ocean Park family with pride and joy.
A surprising arrival to kick off the journey
“Before Ying Ying gave birth to the elder sister, the ultrasound scans had only detected one foetus. However, after the elder sister was born, experts from CCRCGP chose to stay and observe her closely, suspecting there might be another cub yet to arrive. When the little brother was born about an hour later, it was a delightful surprise for all of us,” shared Howard Chuk, Head of Zoological Operations and Conservation at Ocean Park, remembering the initial suspense. “The excitement was palpable, and we were relieved to see both cubs thrive.”
The early days were all about mum’s milk and special frozen panda milk sourced by CCRCGP from various locations. But after one-week old, the twins graduated to formula, carefully prepared by the team just like for a human baby.
Caring for Ying Ying and the cubs with precision and compassion
Mandy Yan, Senior Supervisor of Zoological Operations at Ocean Park, described the daily routine of milk preparation – mixing, filtering, warming and testing its temperature on her own hand, ensuring that every step is carried out with precision. Now, it's three meals a day, eight hours apart. Caretakers would burp the cubs after feeding finished, helping to push out excess air and avoid vomiting. They also constantly monitor the cubs to ensure these precious cubs are healthy, with all observations meticulously recorded.
Meanwhile, Ying Ying needed her own tender loving care. "Initially, Ying Ying was extremely exhausted from the labour and had little appetite, so the team had to coax her to eat," Elke Wu, Assistant Curator of Zoological Operations at Ocean Park explained. “Ying Ying is quite picky about food; for example, while most giant pandas are attracted to honey, it holds no appeal for her. Instead, we prepared electrolyte water in hopes that its sweet taste would encourage her to stay hydrated. Now, she has improved significantly, reaching about 70–80% of her normal food consumption, allowing her to resume regular activities. We monitor her closely, taking measurements of her temperature and weight.”
Now, Ying Ying is almost back to her old self, though still sensitive to changes in her environment. The bond between her and the team is clear – years of trust making all the difference. “Ying Ying knows she can rely on us, which makes all the difference during this demanding period,” added Wu.
The past two months have been deeply emotional for the caretakers. In the critical first four days following the birth of the twins, which are crucial for the babies, Yan and Wu have not left the Park, prioritising Ying Ying and her cubs above everything.
“My kids wondered what was going on and I took the opportunity to teach them about dedication and responsibility,” said Wu. “When my own children were born, I was just as committed, and now these panda cubs feel like my third and fourth children.”
Yan added, “I am blissed to have a supportive family; despite my exhaustion, they understand my commitment and encourage me to rest, even if it’s just for a short while before I head back to work.”
Expert collaboration ensures a strong start for the cubs
The support from CCRCGP experts Zhang Yahui and Dong Li has been invaluable, helping the Ocean Park team perfect their hands-on techniques, particularly in feeding and monitoring the cubs’ health. This incredible collaboration ensured the cubs have the best possible start.
As the cubs grow, Ocean Park is excited to share them with the world. But for now, every moment is about care and observation.
Join Ocean Park in celebrating these adorable cubs and learn more about our vital mission of wildlife conservation. Every paw print brings hope for the future of giant pandas!
