Twin Panda Birth at Chinese Embassy... "Thank You for the Love from Korean People"

Everland, Korea's First Twin Panda Sisters Born
Both Female, Weighing 180g and 140g

The panda couple Lubao (10 years old) and Aibao (9 years old) at Everland in Yongin received congratulatory messages from China after having twin daughters three years after the birth of their first daughter, Pubao (10 years old).

The Chinese Embassy in Korea posted on its official WeChat (the Chinese version of KakaoTalk) account on the 11th with the message "Pubao: I became an older sister," announcing Aibao's birth news by saying, "The panda living in Korea has brought good news again after three years."

Earlier, Aibao gave birth to twin pandas at 4:52 a.m. and 6:39 a.m. on the 7th. Both pandas are female, weighing 180g and 140g respectively. The "eldest sister" Pubao, who currently weighs 98kg, was 197g at birth in July 2020.

With this, Everland has gained the reputation of being the first zoo in Korea to succeed in natural panda breeding and also succeeding in natural breeding of twin pandas.

Everland announced on the 11th that twin female panda cubs were born on the 7th to the couple Lubao (10 years old) and Aibao (9 years old), living in Everland Panda World. The photo shows the twin baby panda sisters undergoing a health checkup (first and second from the left). [Image source=Samsung C&T·Yonhap News]

Pandas have a breeding season only once a year, usually lasting just one to three days around March to April, making pregnancy and childbirth difficult. Accordingly, Everland scientifically analyzed the hormonal changes of the couple Lubao and Aibao through blood and urine tests. As a result, they identified the period with the highest mating success rate and succeeded in natural mating in mid-February.

The embassy mentioned this, stating, "Everland provided full support and carefully cared for the pandas, monitoring their condition 24 hours a day," and added, "Recently, experts were specially invited from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda to cooperate."

The photo shows Aibao holding the first-born twin in its mouth immediately after birth. [Image source=Samsung C&T·Yonhap News]

The Chinese Embassy expressed gratitude for the care and love of the Korean people toward the Korean panda family and sincerely wished for the healthy growth of the two newborn baby pandas.

They added, "We hope the baby pandas will meet visitors soon to bring more joy and inject new positive energy to promote Korea-China friendship."

Meanwhile, Aibao and Lubao were sent in March 2016 by Chinese President Xi Jinping as a symbol of Korea-China friendship.

At that time, the two pandas were young, around 3 to 4 years old, and grew into adults under the care of their keepers, giving birth to their cub Pubao in July 2020. Pubao is currently loved under various nicknames such as "Yongin Pussi," "Pugongju," and "Purungji." However, according to the Korea-China agreement, Pubao is scheduled to be returned to China next year to meet a mate when she turns four years old.

Everland announced that the twin pandas will not be publicly displayed for the time being to ensure their healthy growth, and experts will intensively manage them inside Panda World. Plans to open them to the public will be reviewed separately in the future.