Historic Arrival: World’s Oldest First-Time Panda Mom Gives Birth to Twins at Ocean Park

Ocean Park in Hong Kong has celebrated a historic achievement with the arrival of twin giant pandas born to Ying Ying, who at 19 years old is the oldest first-time panda mother in history. The twin cubs, born on August 15—just one day before Ying Ying’s 19th birthday—were delivered following over five hours of labor.

Ocean Park’s social media announcement expressed excitement over this rare event, highlighting that these are the first giant panda twins ever born in Hong Kong. Given that giant panda females only ovulate once a year, the successful birth of these twins is a significant milestone.

The cubs were born a little over an hour apart, with the male arriving at 2:05 AM and the female at 3:27 AM. The park’s team and experts from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) provided crucial support during the delivery.

Despite her initial nervousness and the challenges of being a first-time mother, Ying Ying has adapted well to her new role. The twins, who are very delicate, are under constant care by Ocean Park’s veterinary team. The female cub is particularly fragile, showing lower body temperature and reduced food intake compared to her brother.

Ocean Park has promised to keep the public updated as the twins grow stronger, and anticipates introducing them to the world a few months from now.