Panda Watch is a blog by the Post that tracks the latest on the baby panda twins – the first to be born in Hong Kong – until they are ready to meet the public. To read our previous blog entries, click here.
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Hong Kong panda mum Ying Ying has cared for her newborn cubs together for the first time ahead of their public debut, which is expected to be after Lunar New Year.
A video released by Ocean Park showed Ying Ying playing with her cubs, licking and cuddling “Elder Sister” and “Younger Brother”.
“She is observed [to be] very calm and peaceful! With such adorable siblings, Ying Ying shows no favouritism – she loves them both equally,” the park said in a social media post.
Bear caretakers marked the back of “Younger Brother” with animal-safe purple food colouring to distinguish him from “Elder Sister”.
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The keepers have been taking turns caring for the twins since they were born in August last year, as Ying Ying was too old to handle them. Also, given the nature of giant pandas, she would have only taken care of the stronger one –“Younger Brother” – as “Elder Sister” was more fragile upon birth.