Nation & World News

First surviving giant panda triplets cute, doing well

Zoo "thrilled" and still cautious
By Rick Couri
Aug 13, 2014

The babies were born at Guangzhou's Chimelong Safari Park and are being called, a "new wonder of the world."

The triplets were born to a panda named Juxiao. The English translation of her name is "chrysanthemum smile."

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The birth took place in late July, but officials at the zoo didn’t want to make things public until they had survived for a time. The bears are now just over two weeks old and “have lived longer than any other triplets so far."

The Guardian reports the death rate for newborn pandas is so high, the fuzzy little creatures won't be considered "surviving," until they are six-months sold.

The infants were put into an incubator after the birth to allow Juxiao some rest time. They’re all back together now and reports say the babies are nursing as normal.

The World Wildlife Fund says the birth is significant because there are fewer than 1,600 giant pandas left on Earth.

Dong Guixin is the general manager of the park. "It was a miracle for us and exceeded our expectations," he beamed.

More here.

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Rick Couri

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