Double trouble! Moment panda gives birth to TWINS at Madrid Zoo - the fifth and sixth time the parents have welcomed cubs
A giant panda on loan to Spain from China gave birth to twin cubs at Madrid Zoo Aquarium on Monday, the second time that's happened in the zoo's history.
The two pink giant pandas, were born to their mother Hua Zuiba, and father, Bing Xing, the zoo said in a statement.
The first birth happened at 8:30 am local time and the second occurred just four hours later, the zoo added.Scroll down for video
Madrid Zoo Aquarium announced on Monday that a giant panda gave birth to twin cubs, the second time in the zoo's history
The two pandas were born to their mother Hua Zuiba, and father, Bing Xing
'The young that are born with pink skin will be totally dependent on their mother for the next four months until they can walk on their own and be presented in the pagoda,' the zoo said.
It's not yet clear what the sex is of the newborns, nor their weight or vitals.
However, given that Hua is a 'skilled mother,' the zoo said the birth had been 'calmer' due to her experience.
These unnamed cubs are the fifth and sixth of Hua and Bing, including another pair of twins in 2010. They were all sent back to China after a few years in the Madrid Zoo.
The zoo released a video which shows Hua Zuiba vocalizing while moving into the labor position.
Approximately 25 seconds into the clip, a cub appears, wiggling energetically before the mother takes the newborn with her mouth and licks it while holding it in her lap.Panda cubs are born without hair and with pink skin, and are completely dependent on their mother for at least four months.
At that point, they can walk on their own and live in the pagoda, the zoo said.
China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding sent two experts for the births in Madrid, whom will be assisting with the first weeks of breastfeeding, the zoo said.
Conservation efforts, including panda breeding in captivity, have brought the giant pandas from the brink of extinction.
The species is now listed by the IUCN conservation group as 'vulnerable,' an upgrade from 2016 when they were considered 'endangered.'
There are about 1,800 pandas living in the wild in China and about 500 in captivity worldwide, where twin births are not uncommon.
The Beauval Zoo, south of Paris, saw a birth of twin pandas that were 'very lively, pink and plump' in August.
Several other European nations also have giant pandas, including Austria, Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, Finland and the Netherlands.
For decades, China gifted friendly nations with its unofficial national mascot in what was known as 'panda diplomacy.'
More recently, the country has loaned pandas to zoos on commercial terms.
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