Giant panda triplets born in China

Beijing, Aug 12 (IANS/EFE) A giant panda at Guangzhou's zoo in southern China has given birth to perfectly healthy triplets, an unprecedented feat for the species due to its high newborn mortality.

The China Daily said the triplets were born July 29 at the Chimelong Safari Park although the news was not made public until Tuesday by the zoo.

Dong Guixin, the director of the zoo, said the cubs were the only panda triplets alive in the world, adding that in these cases the possibility of surviving was only one percent.

Their mother, Juxiao, was in labour for four hours and the cubs weighed at birth 83, 90 and 122 grams, a figure that has doubled after a nearly half a month of nursing with the help of zoo caretakers.

The director of China's Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Zhang Heming, described the birth as "a miracle" and said the cubs "have a great chance of surviving".

Pandas are one of the most endangered species of the planet and a national symbol of China, the only country where they can be found in the wild.

Currently there are 1,600 giant pandas in the wild, and 210 in reserves and zoos of cities in China and other countries, including Madrid, Edinburgh, Beauval (France), Washington and Adelaide.

The species is threatened due to the destruction of its habitat and the disappearance of bamboo, its main food.

--IANS/EFE

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