Giant panda Qianqian gave birth to twin cubs at the Ya'an Base on June 10, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda said on June 18. The twins are the first pair of giant panda cubs born this year within the Center's captive population.

According to staff, both cubs are male and developing well. Their eyes, ears, limbs and shoulder markings are beginning to turn black, while their strong cries are a sign of excellent health. Currently, one cub is actively being nursed by Qianqian, while the other is being cared for by a specialized hand-rearing team. The brothers will be periodically rotated to ensure that both receive adequate bonding time with their mother.