The Toronto Zoo has been providing updates on its twin giant pandas and so far, so good. The tiny cubs are bonding with their mother, Er Shun, while zoo staff also continue to help with feeding them since they were born on Tuesday.
This allows staff to weigh & conduct health checks w/ both cubs recording normal weight fluctuations #TOpandacubs pic.twitter.com/acngcgtTDd
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) October 15, 2015
If cubs are observed not suckling from mom, we are able to collect milk from Er Shun & bottle feed cubs #TOpandacubs pic.twitter.com/eNdfaaEfy5 — The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) October 15, 2015
Both cubs are stable and we continue to twin swap with mom so she can nurse and bond with each cub #TOPandaCubs pic.twitter.com/MKbAfkskUZ
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) October 15, 2015
The zoo posted this update on Facebook:
The giant panda team continues to closely monitor the two cubs and Er Shun around the clock. With the assistance of two giant panda experts from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China, the team continues to twin-swap the cubs. This not only enables Er Shun to nurse and bond with each cub, but also provides the Zoo’s Wildlife Health Centre and Wildlife Care staff with the opportunity to weigh each cub and conduct regular health checks. While there has been some weight fluctuations with both cubs, which is very common with newborns, both of them are currently stable. Yesterday, the cubs were observed nursing from Er Shun and if the team notices that one or both of the cubs are not suckling from her, the team is able to collect milk from Er Shun and give it to the cubs extremely carefully, by bottle.
We continue to communicate with our colleagues around the globe, who have been fortunate enough to have giant panda cubs, to share insights and best practices. We want to thank everyone for the ongoing support and encouragement during this critical time. We will continue to update you as information becomes available as the team continues to be very focused on the health and wellbeing of the cubs and Er Shun.
And, here’s something these little fellas can aspire to. Bei Bei was born a twin in August and while the twin didn’t survive, Bei Bei is thriving at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
Here are some highlights from Bei Bei’s vet exam last week! He got his 1st vaccine & a regular checkup. #PandaStory pic.twitter.com/oVJILVQ5RD — National Zoo (@NationalZoo) October 15, 2015
Ahhh, that’s the spot. Our chief vet massages 2 of Bei Bei’s pressure points before a routine exam. #PandaStory pic.twitter.com/Jk6nqwnovy
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) October 9, 2015
And, this. Mother and baby.
Those toes! This was our fav panda cam shot this week from our #PandaStory Flickr group, captured by partipersian. pic.twitter.com/TyPl7HZfKH — National Zoo (@NationalZoo) October 9, 2015
