Twin panda cubs stable, fragile, says Ocean Park

Henry Siu

Hong Kong's newly born panda twins are stable but still considered "a little fragile," according to Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee.

The park is taking turns with their mother, Ying Ying, to care for the twins, while their father, Le Le, has yet to meet them.

Pong said it's unlikely Le Le will have the opportunity to meet Ying Ying and the twins in the future.

Also, Ocean Park plans to construct a new facility to accommodate all six pandas, including two that will soon arrive in Hong Kong as a gift from the central government.

The Macau Giant Panda Pavilion, built in 2010, cost about 90 million patacas (HK$87.8 million).

Ying Ying is considered to be of advanced maternal age, equivalent to about 57 years in human terms.

Pong expressed gratitude to the Sichuan Giant Panda Research Center for providing supplemental breast milk, as Ying Ying is fatigued from birth and needs time to recuperate.

"Feeding and sleeping are crucial for the panda twins' development, as well as their intake of breast milk and the warmth from their mother," Pong said, adding Ying Ying is learning to care for her young while receiving some artificial support.

The growth process for giant pandas typically involves several developmental milestones - it takes one to two weeks for them to develop black and white fur, one to two months to open their eyes, and they begin to maintain their body temperature independently around this time.

They start to walk at four to five months and learn to climb between six and 12 months.

"Ocean Park will provide timely updates on the panda cubs' growth without placing undue pressure on the care team," Pong said.

He is also looking forward to the arrival of the additional pandas from the central government in late September, which he believes will enhance the park's appeal to tourists.

Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said the pandas will attract more visitors, especially from Southeast Asia.

He highlighted the economic potential seen in past panda cases, such as Xiang Xiang, a Chinese giant panda born in Japan that generated 65 billion yen in local revenue during her time there.

Chui suggested increasing the pandas' popularity through online promotions, showcasing their daily lives and growth, which could further boost merchandise sales and dining experiences in Hong Kong.