National Zoo Giant Panda Mei Xiang Gives Birth To Twin Cubs

Mei Xiang, the giant panda housed at the National Zoo in Washington D.C., has successfully given birth to two cubs on Saturday.

According to CNN, the first cub was born just an hour after Mei Xian's water broke at 4:32 p.m. Then, four hours later, the second cub followed.

"The panda team began preparing for a birth when they saw Mei Xiang's water break at 4:32 p.m., and she was already having contractions. The sex of the cub won't be determined until a later date," the news report stated.

While the cubs are said to be strong, one of them was put in an incubator, according to the Washington Post. One cub weighed almost five ounces while the other weighed three ounces, according to USA Today.

Zoo officials said that the few weeks following the birth would be critical for their survival. "Until these cubs are both out, walking around, acting normal, that's when we will exhale," said chief veterinarian Don Neiffer to the news outlet.

To ensure that the cubs will survive the critical phase, zoo personnel will have to ensure that they get time alone with their mom to nurse and socialize alternately. According to CBS News, panda moms are only capable of taking care of one baby. For twins, one baby will almost always die if the mother is left on her own, so the swapping technique is essential. This same technique was employed by zoo workers when a panda gave birth in an Atlanta zoo two years ago. Chinese breeders have also been using the system for many years, the news outlet cited.

"It's very rare, obviously, for them to manage two cubs. If she were able to do it, we would certainly let her," said Laurie Thompson, a biologist. "She couldn't figure out how to hold both of them. She couldn't get ahold of one and have the other one under her arm and pick it up at the same time. She just kept fumbling with them."

The tiny cubs will also be given panda formula, which is a mixture of water, human baby formula and puppy formula.

In April, Mei Xiang underwent artificial insemination. She has two other children, Tai Shan, 10, which now lives in China, and Bao Bao, two, which remains in the zoo. Just like her sibling, Bao Bao will be sent to China when she's at the right age.

The new cubs may be viewed online via the Giant Panda Cam.