A giant panda in France - on loan from China - has given birth to healthy twin female cubs. The Beauval Zoo just south of Paris announced Monday the birth of the two cubs, describing them both as "pink and plump."
Zoo workers, veterinarians, wildlife conservationists, and the public all celebrated the rare event. Officials at the zoo said the mother was healthy and actively caring for her newborns. Huan Huan, which means "Happy" in Chinese, was loaned to the French zoo as part of China's efforts to boost Panda numbers.
According to data from the World Wildlife Fund, there are currently only 1,864 giant pandas living in the wild - all of which are in China. While Pandas are no longer classified as endangered species, their status is still classified as "vulnerable" due to their low numbers and low fertility rate.
Pandas are naturally solitary and females only ovulate once a year. Pandas in the wild do not reproduce quickly and China has had to rely on breeding centers and artificial insemination techniques to boost the population. A National Geographic documentary showed that Pandas also have a hard time "getting in the mood," which is why expert intervention is often necessary.
The Beauval Zoo confirmed the birth of the cubs on Monday in a post on its official website. The zoo's associate director, Delphine Delord, described the births as "exceptional," adding that the babies were "magnificent" to behold.
On Tuesday, the zoo's twitter account was swamped with congratulatory messages from animal lovers and wildlife conservation groups. Most thanked the zoo's staff and the team of Chinese veterinarians who helped in Huan Huan through her labor.
Zoo workers have reportedly nicknamed the two cubs "Petite Niege" and "Fleur de Coton," or Little Snow and Cotton Flower in English. The two cubs will be officially named after 100 days following Chinese tradition.
The father of the two cubs is another giant panda loaned to France named Yuan Zi. The two adult pandas were loaned to France in 2012. Since then, they had conceived several cubs. The first panda to be born in France was Yuan Meng. His birth was widely celebrated in the country and in China.
