Photo from: Ouwehands Zoo
A giant panda on loan by China to the Netherlands has achieved a historic milestone as she gave birth at the Ouwehands Zoo.
The birth, which is considered a first, was announced on Saturday.
Wu Wen mated with a cub in January. The cub is also from Beijing.
Stock photo of giant pandas from unsplash.com
“The mother and her cub are staying in the maternity den and are doing well,” the zoo in the central city of Rhenen said in a statement said.
“This cub was born and conceived naturally,” said Ouwehands owner Marcel Boekhoorn.
“Male or female? The cub’s gender will remain a surprise for the time being,” he further explained.
“The keepers are leaving Wu Wen and her cub alone. When the cub leaves the maternity den after a few months, we will be able to see what the gender is.”
“When that happens, the little giant panda will be named,” the zoo owner said.
The cub will be sent to China after four years to join the breeding program.
The giant panda parents were loaned to the Netherlands in 2017. The loan will run for 15 years.
Giant pandas are native in the wild in China. Unfortunately, their habitat is shrinking. Since 2016. the giant panda population is no longer considered in danger of extinction but it is still “vulnerable.”
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