Toronto Zoo
Toronto Zoo

Mama panda gave birth early this morning, and the whole family is doing well! 

Huge congrats to Toronto Zoo’s own giant panda Er Shun, who just gave birth after 3 am this morning to not one but two tiny pandas! Er Shun is on loan from China, and was artificially inseminated.

They are being very closely monitored in an incubator, and weigh 115 grams and 187 grams. They are born blind, and are only 1/900th of their mother’s size.

 

Toronto Zoo
Toronto Zoo

 

From Toronto Zoo’s Facebook:

We are very excited to announce a Canadian first today with the birth of two giant panda cubs! Er Shun gave birth to her first cub at 3:31 AM this morning and the second cub was born at 3:44 AM

Er Shun is demonstrating excellent maternal instincts and began nursing, cleaning and cradling the first cub soon after its birth. Although giant panda twin births are common, the mother will only nurse and care for one cub instinctively. As a result, immediately following the birth of the second cub, Toronto Zoo staff from the Wildlife Health Centre, Wildlife Care and two giant panda experts from Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China, retrieved the cub to initiate the Toronto Zoo’s Giant Panda Twin Hand-Rearing Protocol. It was then placed in an incubator, in the maternity area of the giant panda house, and approximately an hour and a half after its birth the second cub was twin-swapped so it could begin the bonding process with Er Shun.

The first cub weighed 187.7 grams at birth and the second cub 115 grams. They are 1/900th the size of their mother, one of the smallest newborn mammals relative to its mother’s size. While this is wonderful news, the tiny cubs are very vulnerable at this size, so the next several hours and days will be critical to their survival. The sex and paternity of the cubs is still unconfirmed and it could be several months before we are able to determine both of these.

Both mom and cubs will be kept in the maternity area in the giant panda house which is not viewable to the public. As the next few days and weeks are critical for the giant panda cubs, Toronto Zoo staff will be focused on the health and well-being of both Er Shun and her cubs, and we will continue to keep you updated on their progress.

The Toronto Zoo has been working with many key partners who have played such important roles in this conservation success story and we are grateful for their continued support

 

A video was captured of the Er Shun giving birth…