One of the 11-year-old giant panda Meng Meng's twin panda cubs Photo: Courtesy of Zoo Berlin

 

The 11-year-old giant panda Meng Meng's twin panda cubs are now more than one month old, and have been developing well, gaining weight daily. They are set to make their public debut at Zoo Berlin in Germany on October 16, according to an email sent to the Global Times by Zoo Berlin.

Meng Meng gave birth to twins on August 22 at Zoo Berlin. Since their birth, the twin cubs and their mother have been cared for in the rear area of the Panda Garden at the zoo and have not been visible to zoo visitors, according to Zoo Berlin.

From October 16, visitors will be able to watch the twin panda cubs as they grow, according to the zoo. The twin panda cubs will be in the Panda Garden every day from October 16 for about an hour between 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm. This will not change the cubs' daily routine, said the zoo. 

In the weeks since the twin panda cubs' birth, they have been developing splendidly, gaining weight daily. Having recently transitioned from the incubator to their own "panda bed," the cubs are now prepared for the next stage, and zoo visitors can take a first look at them, according to the zoo.

One of the 11-year-old giant panda Meng Meng's twin panda cubs Photo: Courtesy of Zoo Berlin

 
The two cubs continue to take turns with their mother Meng Meng and drink exclusively from her. The zoo also said that the cubs are beginning to resemble "real" giant pandas as they have developed the typical black and white coloring. They have increased their birth weight more than tenfold.

Meng Meng and Jiao Qing, a male giant panda, arrived in Germany in 2017 from China. In August 2019, Meng Meng gave birth to the twin cubs, Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan, in Germany. In December 2023, the twins were returned to China, according to Xinhua News Agency.