Adorable Twin Pandas Finding Feet At Berlin Zoo

Story By: Victoria Lyndon, Sub EditorJoseph GolderAgency: Central European News

These adorable images show cute panda twins becoming acquainted with their new surroundings at Berlin Zoo.

Reports said the eight-week-old fluffy cubs are fast becoming Germany’s most famous bears after being born at the Berlin Zoological Garden, the oldest and best-known zoo in the country.

According to Dr Andreas Knieriem, their coat is well developed and their weight has increased “fifteenfold”.

Picture Credit: CEN/ Zoo Berlin

The adorable cubs weigh 2.58 and 2.53 kilogrammes (5.57 and 5.68 lbs) respectively and are roughly 30 centimetres in length.

Within the last week they have started to open their eyes for the first time and become more active as they begin to experience life. They will soon be introduced to their new ‘panda bed’.

Zoo Director Dr Andreas Knieriem said: “We [hope] they continue to develop in such a magnificent way and that they will soon outgrow their new home.”

Picture Credit: CEN/ Zoo Berlin

Their new bed was built by the zoo handyman using wood and acrylic, measuring 2 by 1.5 metres with a depth of 40 centimetres.

Soft blankets have been placed inside to provide the pandas with comfort.

The cubs are currently feeding from their mother ‘Meng Meng’ alternately.

Their nine-year-old dad ‘Jiao Qing’ has not been involved in the cubs’ rearing which is normal for giant pandas.

The mummy panda gave birth to the twins on 31st August and they weighed just 186 (6.6) and 136 grammes (4.8 ounces).

According to the last census of the worldwide population, around 1,864 adult pandas are believed to be living in their natural habitat. Therefore, the panda is classified as endangered on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Berlin Zoo pays an annual rental fee for the rare pandas and all the money goes towards their conservation as well as breeding programmes.

Meng Meng and Jiao Qing are reportedly sponsored by Berliner Volksbank.

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