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First twin panda cubs of the year born in Sichuan

Xinhua, June 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

A giant panda gave birth to the first twin cubs of the year on Monday in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

"Kelin" gave birth to female twins at 5:10 a.m. at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, scientists told Xinhua.

They are the world's first set of panda twins born in 2015.

The cubs, weighing 118 grams and 70 grams respectively, are Kelin's first litter. They were born more than four months after the mother was artificially inseminated in January.

Kelin's mother, "Jiaozi", has given birth to 10 cubs, while her father "Cobi" was named by former president of the International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch.

Kelin first mated with a male giant panda, "Yongyong", in 2013 when she was five years old, but did not fall pregnant. Another attempt failed in 2014.

Panda breeders and veterinarians are looking after the mother and her cubs at the base, which has the world's most captive-bred giant pandas. Endite