Cui Yige

The picture shows the giant panda "Ying Ying" and the dragon and phoenix fetal babies meeting the public. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Duo

As the first pair of "Hong Kong-made" giant panda twins entered a new stage of growth, after several days of observation and training by Ocean Park Hong Kong's care team, the giant panda babies and their mother "Ying Ying" have gradually adapted to working together in the exhibition area. Since 22/0, they have officially "combined" to meet the public and share their coquettish daily life of begging for hugs and playing together.

Hong Kong Ocean Park staff member Lo Tsz-shan told reporters that the pair of giant pandas are currently "curious babies" who like to explore different things. They can learn some things that humans can't teach, such as distinguishing smells, and help them grow up better. In order to allow the caregivers to closely observe the habits of the giant panda cubs and provide timely assistance, the "Hong Kong-made" giant panda dragon and phoenix fetus and their mother met with visitors at the habitat in the middle of the giant panda tour exhibition hall.

当日上午，距离香港海洋公园开始营业还有两小时，已经有不少熊猫“粉丝”头戴大熊猫龙凤胎玩偶饰品前来，等候见证这一温馨时刻。为了让访客更好感受大熊猫宝宝和妈妈之间“爱的互动”，园方推出全新的入场安排。工作人员从上午10时起派发入场券，每天派发约3000张。每次约40人一组同时间观赏，每组可停留约3分钟，其间工作人员全程引导。中午12时，当日的入场券全部派发完毕。此外，即日起“港产”大熊猫龙凤胎所在的展馆开放时间也从下午3时止延长至下午4时半。

In the venue, the male baby panda followed the mother "Yingying" behind the "walk", constantly rolling and coquettish, the lively and sticky personality overturned the audience, "Yingying" took the initiative to hold the male baby panda in his arms to kiss and lick the belly; The female panda cub who is good at climbing lazily lies on the wooden frame to entertain herself, "Yingying" first gently touches under the wooden frame, and then climbs up to kiss the female panda baby on the cheek, many visitors use their mobile phones to record this warm moment. After playing for a while, the two baby pandas were held in their mother's arms to drink milk and "recharge".

At present, the two babies weigh about 12 kg, and their diet is mainly based on the breast milk of "Yingying" and the milk prepared by the nursing team. Lo said that in the process of growing up with baby pandas, the attention of "Ying Ying" is also constantly changing. "When she was born, she paid more attention to the children's milk and excretion, and now she pays more attention to their safety when they play, and sometimes she pulls them down when she sees them climbing trees in a dangerous position." She said.

"'Yingying' is a very responsible mother." After the viewing, Li Juan, a "fan" who witnessed the blossoming of the Hong Kong panda family, sighed: "It is very happy to be able to see 'Yingying' taking care of the two panda cubs up close, and I hope they can grow up quickly and convey more joy and happiness." ”

At present, the father of the giant panda baby "Lele" is still "operating" alone in different areas of the same exhibition hall and does not communicate with each other. "Because giant pandas are solitary animals, male pandas are not involved in caring for their young children, and only meet their mates for about 72 hours a year, and live separately the rest of the time." Hong Kong Ocean Park staff Cai Jieru said.

Ocean Park Hong Kong revealed that in the future, the park will arrange for the middle of the Giant Panda Journey Pavilion and the habitat near the entrance to be opened to Ying Ying and her two baby pandas, creating a more challenging and inspiring environment for the baby pandas to explore and exercise more life skills under the guidance of their mothers.

Zhu Xiaozhong, Head of Zoology and Conservation at Ocean Park Hong Kong, said that by gradually guiding the baby pandas to experience new things, allowing them to learn from their mothers in a rich and diverse environment, and improving their physical fitness while ensuring physical and mental health, it plays a pivotal role in the growth of baby pandas. "Mother-led parenting is the most effective way to promote the healthy growth of baby pandas, until they reach the age of two or three, and then gradually leave their mothers to live independently."

At present, the two baby pandas do not have official names, and the public affectionately refers to them as "Jia Jie" (elder sister) and "Xiao Lao" (younger brother) in Cantonese. Ocean Park Hong Kong said the name would be retained as a milk name. In addition, the Giant Panda Dragon and Phoenix Baby Naming Competition, organised by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government and co-organised by Ocean Park Hong Kong, has closed for submission, and the results will be announced in the first half of this year.

(According to Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong reporter Xie Niu)