This photo released by Tokyo Zoological Park Society shows giant panda twins, male Xiao Xiao (right) and female Lei Lei, 103 days after they were born at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo on October 4, 2021. Photo: VCG

The twin cubs of giant panda born in June 2021 in Japan, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, will start meeting visitors on January 12. Only 1,080 lucky winners will be selected in a raffle to see the pandas at the zoo exhibit. 

The chances of winning are one in 348, lower than for the debut of another giant panda, Xiang Xiang, according to Japanese media. Visits to see the panda cubs at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo will just be available for three days and only for two hours each day to ensure the cubs' health.

It was estimated that the twin cubs can generate more than 1.68 billion yuan ($259 million) in economic benefits a year after their public debut.

In the video published by the zoo on Tuesday, the two cubs climb up and down, looking healthy and cuddly.

Since last month, the cubs have been moving with their mother into the tourist-oriented exhibit, with zoo staff posing as visitors to give the cubs time to adapt in advance.

There are 10 giant pandas in Japanese zoos, including three at Ueno Zoo and Dan Dan,  a 26-year-old female, at Kobe Oji Zoo.

It was reported that Dan Dan will stay in Japan until the end of 2022 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and for health reasons.

She was scheduled to return to China in July 2020 when the contract between the zoo and the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda came to an end.  

Kobe Oji Zoo told the Global Times that Dan Dan has loss of exercise and appetite presumably caused by age-related heart disease and they have started the necessary medical treatment.

Xiang Xiang's return date has also been delayed to June 2022 because of the pandemic.