Panda Twins are Both Girls: Berlin Zoo Excited
It's a double girl surprise at Berlin Zoo! Confirmed by the zoo director, Andreas Knieriem, the two newly born panda cubs are growing strong and healthy. Though they still look like tiny, hairless guinea pigs, their unique panda markings are starting to emerge.
The reason for the striking black-and-white fur remains unclear, the zoo mentioned. Three main theories attempting to explain this pattern include camouflage, social signaling, and thermoregulation, but there's no definitive answer yet.
Meng Meng, the proud panda mom, delivered her tiny miracles on August 22. A dedicated team of German-Chinese caretakers is ensuring round-the-clock care for the bundles of joy, who will soon meet the zoo visitors, though not for a while as they grow bigger.
Meng Meng had her first family in 2019, welcoming two male cubs, Pit and Paule. Unfortunately, they had to return to China at the end of the year due to China's panda diplomacy policies. These little pandas represent China, loaned to select nations for such diplomatic efforts.
The European Union is keen on observing the growth of these new furry diplomats, with potential knowledge sharing between the EU's zoo associations and Berlin Zoo's successful panda management and breeding program.
Stay tuned for more updates on these adorable additions to the Berlin Zoo family!
Did you know?
Despite the scientific community's ongoing inquiry, three main theories attempt to explain the black-and-white fur coloring in giant pandas. Here's a brief overview:
- Camouflage Theory: The theory suggests that the black-and-white pattern serves as an effective camouflage in the bamboo forests or snowy mountain habitats of these creatures. However, this theory fails to hold water as there's no evidence of natural predators for giant pandas[1].
- Social Signal Theory: Another theory proposes that the black-and-white markings aid in accentuating social cues or assist pandas in recognizing each other from a distance. This helps keep them from unnecessary social interaction typical of solitary species like pandas[1].
- Thermoregulation Theory: A third theory suggests that the black fur absorbs heat, and the white fur reflects it, helping pandas maintain a stable body temperature. However, this theory, too, is purely speculative[1].
Don't miss out on the latest news regarding the Berlin Zoo's newest residents and the ongoing research on giant pandas.
