Mother Ai Bao on July 7 gives birth to the first twin giant pandas born in the country at the theme park Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do Province. 

By Kim Seon Ah
Photos = Everland

The largest domestic amusement park Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do Province, has seen the first birth in the country of twin giant panda cubs.

Samsung C&T Resort Group, which runs the park, on July 11 said giant panda dad Le Bao, 10, and mom Ai Bao, 9, on July 7 gave birth to the twins.  

The twins are the younger sisters of Fu Bao, 3, a female panda born in July 2020. 

"The mother and her cubs are all healthy," an Everland source said. "Mother Ai Bao is skillfully taking care of her cubs, drawing from her experience with Fu Bao."

Giant pandas rarely get pregnant as their annual childbearing period is just one to three days every spring.

Through scientific analysis of hormone change data of the pandas using blood and urine tests, Everland Zoo identified an optimal period to maximize the chance of mating success, which led to successful natural fertilization in mid-February.

Zookeeper Kang Cherwon, also known as Fu Bao's grandpa, said, "I'm so glad over the first twin giant panda cubs born in the country following Fu Bao," adding, "I'll give them good care so that they can become a panda family that brings hope and happiness to many people."

Everland will not allow in-person public viewing of the twins for now, but plans to post videos of their growth process and daily life through social media like its YouTube channels Everland and Talking Zoo PPUPPA TV and the Naver page Zootopia.

The first twin giant panda is on the left and the other on the right.

sofiakim218@korea.kr