Giant panda Shin Shin gave birth to twins early Wednesday at Ueno Zoo in Taito Ward, Tokyo, according to the zoo.
This is the first time for twins to be born to a giant panda at Ueno Zoo, and the first time in four years that Shin Shin has given birth. In June 2017 she became the mother of female panda Xiang Xiang.
Both the mother and the newborns were said to be doing well.
According to the zoo, Shin Shin delivered one baby at about 1 a.m. Wednesday, followed by the other about 90 minutes later. A zoo attendant placed one of the babies, which weighed 124 grams, in an incubator. The weight of the other twin was not known because Shin Shin is holding and taking care of it.
The babies' genders have not been determined yet.
Shin Shin was confirmed to have mated with male giant panda Ri Ri at the zoo in March. In late May, she started to show signs of pregnancy, such as a lack of appetite and increased hormones in her urine.
The zoo therefore stopped exhibiting Shin Shin and let her live in an area closed off from the public. On Tuesday evening, she repeatedly engaged in behavior indicating that delivery was imminent, so the zoo watched her around the clock.
"When the second twin was delivered, I was really surprised and thought, 'She did it!'" zoo head Yutaka Fukuda said at a press conference. "I hope [the news] will bring joy and vitality to many people."
Shin Shin and Ri Ri came from China to Japan in February 2011. A baby delivered by Shin Shin in July 2012 died from pneumonia six days after birth.
Xiang Xiang is still at Ueno Zoo but is expected to be returned to China in December.
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