Four panda cubs born the same day in SW China's Sichuan Province

APD NEWS

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Female pandas Zhen Zhen and Su Shan gave birth to a total of four panda cubs on July 17 at Shenshuping base in Wolong National Nature Reserve, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Su Shan and her first cub on July 17.

At 6:44 p.m., Zhen Zhen gave birth to her first cub, who appeared healthy.

About 30 minutes later, a second cub, a male, was born. Fourteen-year-old Zhen Zhen was born in San Diego Zoo in the U.S. and returned to China in 2010 when she was three years old. She gave birth to twin cubs in 2015.

Su Shan and her first cub on July 17.

Su Shan also give birth to two healthy cubs around the same time as Zhen Zhen, the second of which was female. Su Shan was born in 2011 from wild panda parents. In 2016, she gave birth to one cub.

Su Shan's second cub.

Su Shan's second cub.

Su Shan's second cub.

Both elder cubs stayed with their mothers, therefore their gender has not been identified yet. The younger cubs were taken into incubators and received assisted care from panda breeders.

These were the first births at China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda this year.

Zhen Zhen's second cub.

Zhen Zhen's second cub.

(All photos courtesy of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda)

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