Public debut for giant panda cubs born in Hong Kong
Hong Kong-born giant panda cubs have made their public debut, allowing visitors to see these adorable animals up close.
TroibNews 
The first giant panda cubs born in Hong Kong at Ocean Park were introduced to the public on Sunday, inviting residents to participate in the naming of the adorable twins.
The cubs, currently residing in the "Giant Panda Adventure" hall, were born last August. Their parents, Ying Ying and Le Le, were gifted to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by the central government.
During a ceremony held on Saturday, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee expressed his sincere appreciation for the experts who provided exceptional care for the twins and professional postnatal support to Ying Ying following the cubs' birth.
"Ying Ying, the mother of the twin cubs, is on record as the world's oldest giant panda to give birth for the first time. The birth of the twin cubs not only solidifies the outstanding achievements of our country in giant panda conservation, but also demonstrates Ocean Park's leading position as an important conservation and education base in Hong Kong," he stated, affirming the HKSAR government’s commitment to advancing and promoting giant panda conservation.
Lee also announced a naming competition for the cubs. So far, the public has affectionately referred to the twins as "Jiajie" and "Xilao," which translate to "elder sister" and "little brother" in Cantonese.
Hong Kong residents are encouraged to propose names for the twin cubs that reflect their physical traits and behaviors, as well as their interactions. The winning names will be revealed in the first half of this year.
Over the past six months, the cubs have made remarkable progress, growing from approximately 120 grams at birth to more than 12 kilograms, as reported by their caretakers.
"Pandas are national treasures. They are connected to the emotions of Hong Kong residents. I am also very grateful to the country for always giving the best and most precious gifts to Hong Kong. We will take good care of these two panda babies," noted Poman Lo, a businesswoman in the tourism sector.
With the addition of these twins, Hong Kong is home to six giant pandas. Over the years, the central government has gifted three pairs of giant pandas to the city.
The first pair, An An and Jia Jia, arrived in 1999 but have since passed away. The second pair, Le Le and Ying Ying, was introduced in 2007 and welcomed the twins on August 15, 2024. The third pair, An An and Ke Ke, came to Hong Kong in 2024.
Currently, all of Hong Kong's giant pandas reside at Ocean Park, where they receive dedicated care from the park's staff.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
The cubs, currently residing in the "Giant Panda Adventure" hall, were born last August. Their parents, Ying Ying and Le Le, were gifted to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by the central government.
During a ceremony held on Saturday, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee expressed his sincere appreciation for the experts who provided exceptional care for the twins and professional postnatal support to Ying Ying following the cubs' birth.
"Ying Ying, the mother of the twin cubs, is on record as the world's oldest giant panda to give birth for the first time. The birth of the twin cubs not only solidifies the outstanding achievements of our country in giant panda conservation, but also demonstrates Ocean Park's leading position as an important conservation and education base in Hong Kong," he stated, affirming the HKSAR government’s commitment to advancing and promoting giant panda conservation.
Lee also announced a naming competition for the cubs. So far, the public has affectionately referred to the twins as "Jiajie" and "Xilao," which translate to "elder sister" and "little brother" in Cantonese.
Hong Kong residents are encouraged to propose names for the twin cubs that reflect their physical traits and behaviors, as well as their interactions. The winning names will be revealed in the first half of this year.
Over the past six months, the cubs have made remarkable progress, growing from approximately 120 grams at birth to more than 12 kilograms, as reported by their caretakers.
"Pandas are national treasures. They are connected to the emotions of Hong Kong residents. I am also very grateful to the country for always giving the best and most precious gifts to Hong Kong. We will take good care of these two panda babies," noted Poman Lo, a businesswoman in the tourism sector.
With the addition of these twins, Hong Kong is home to six giant pandas. Over the years, the central government has gifted three pairs of giant pandas to the city.
The first pair, An An and Jia Jia, arrived in 1999 but have since passed away. The second pair, Le Le and Ying Ying, was introduced in 2007 and welcomed the twins on August 15, 2024. The third pair, An An and Ke Ke, came to Hong Kong in 2024.
Currently, all of Hong Kong's giant pandas reside at Ocean Park, where they receive dedicated care from the park's staff.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
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