In Hong Kong, the birth of the first locally born giant pandas was announced by Ocean Park, with the mother, Ying Ying, becoming the world’s oldest first-time mother of its kind on record. The twins, one male and one female, were born at Ocean Park just a day before Ying Ying turned 19 years old. Ying Ying and her partner Le Le are the second pair of pandas gifted by China to Hong Kong since the return of the former British colony to China’s rule in 1997. Pandas are considered China’s unofficial national mascot, and the giant panda loan program with overseas zoos is a tool of Beijing’s soft-power diplomacy.
Despite the difficulty of giant pandas reproducing, especially as they age, Ying Ying’s pregnancy was confirmed late, with symptoms showing in late July. On Wednesday, her labor symptoms began and she delivered the babies after over five hours of labor on Thursday morning. The cubs are fragile and need time to stabilize, especially the female cub, who has a lower body temperature, weaker cries, and lower food intake. Visitors will have to wait a few months for their public debut.
Chairman of Ocean Park Corp., Paulo Pong, thanked the local animal care team and experts from mainland China for their partnership and assistance in the birth of the pandas. Pong described the birth as a true rarity, considering Ying Ying’s age. Hong Kong leader John Lee expressed his gratitude to the central government for gifting the pandas to the financial hub in 2007, showing Beijing’s care and support for the city. Despite having its own governing and judicial system, Hong Kong has faced challenges with the introduction of China’s 2020 national security law, which has been used to prosecute pro-democracy activists.
In July, Hong Kong announced that it would receive a third pair of pandas from China, expected to arrive later this year. The first pair, An An and Jia Jia, arrived in 1999, with Jia Jia holding the record as the world’s oldest-ever panda to live in captivity until her passing in 2016. The average lifespan for pandas in the wild is 18 to 20 years, but in captivity, it extends to 30 years. The arrival of more pandas in Hong Kong strengthens the bond between the city and the central government in Beijing, showcasing care and support for Hong Kong’s unique position within China.
