South Korean giant panda births twin girl cubs
A giant panda welcomed a double dose of cuteness into the world in South Korea.
The black-and-white bear, named Ai Bao, gave birth to two healthy twin girl cubs Friday at the Everland Amusement and Animal Park near Seoul, the park said Tuesday.
Park officials released footage of the birth and the proud mom caring for the tiny cubs — including her holding the tots gently in her mouth — as they squirmed and squealed.
Between 40 and 50% of panda births result in twins, experts say, but the unnamed cubs were the first to be born in South Korea, according to the park.
The twin girls will bolster the population of giant pandas, which had once dropped below 1,000 but was now approaching 2,000 worldwide thanks to conservation efforts.
Ai Bao and her male partner Le Bao came to South Korea from China in 2016 on a 15 year lease.
Some 14 million visitors had trekked to the animal park to meet the family since their arrival.
The couple had a daughter named Fu Bao in 2020, who will now play big sister to the twins.
With Post wires