Twin giant panda cubs born in northwest China

BEIJING — Northwest China’s Qinling Panda Research Center welcomed twin newborn giant panda cubs this week, officials said.

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According to The Associated Press, Qin Qin gave birth to the babies Tuesday at the breeding facility in Shaanxi province, state media reported. The new arrivals – one male and one female – mark the second pair of twins for their mother, who welcomed two female cubs in 2020, the reports said.

State media outlets did not provide any information about the twins’ father, the AP reported. Animal care workers in China frequently use artificial insemination in an effort to help the species’ population grow, according to the news agency.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources considers giant pandas vulnerable. An estimated 500 to 1,000 mature giant pandas remain in the wild, and their population is increasing, according to the organization’s website.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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