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Lo Hoi-ying

Panda Watch is a weekly blog by the Post that tracks the latest on the baby panda twins – the first to be born in Hong Kong – until they are ready to meet the public. To read our previous blog entries, click here.
Hong Kong’s panda cubs have started to take a peek at the world around them, while the pair have also graduated from their incubators and are developing ever-thicker coats as they reach seven weeks of age.
“In the past few days, the panda caretaker team at the park has noticed that when the panda twin cubs wake up, their eyes are slightly open!” Ocean Park said in an Instagram post.
“Our cuties are starting to see the world.”
The park said earlier this week that the elder cub weighed more than 1.6kg (3.5lbs), while the younger one was lighter at around 1.4kg.
It added that the bears were transferred from their incubators into cots as they had got better at regulating their body temperatures and their fur had thickened.
The two cubs were also captured in a rare moment together, with the “Elder Sister” placing her paw on her brother’s arm.
Normally, one cub spends time with a caretaker as the other is nursed by Ying Ying, who is learning the ropes of motherhood.
“These precious moments were captured while Ying Ying was having her ‘me time’ to enjoy food and ‘Little Brother’ came back to weigh in,” the park said.
Like humans, pandas also receive health check-ups.

According to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, diseases pose the greatest threat to the survival of pandas.
“Diseases affecting the digestive, respiratory, nervous and hematopoietic systems are often fatal,” it said.
“Additionally, various tumours, internal and external parasitic infections, skin diseases and injuries can all impact the health and lifespan of giant pandas.”
Matt Leung, a caretaker at Ocean Park, said staff measured the pandas’ blood pressure by placing the bears’ forearms through a metal frame where they could attach a medical device.
“Just like humans, high blood pressure is often associated with old age for pandas,” he said.
Caretakers also have to trim the claws regularly to prevent them from becoming ingrown, especially for older pandas, which are less active.
“For Ying Ying and Le Le who are still physically fit for their age, doing exercise helps wear down their claws,” he said.
Leung said dental check-ups were also part of the healthcare routine, as the pandas’ teeth might wear down given that they chewed huge amounts of bamboo stems and leaves daily.
“Bits and pieces from bamboo leaves and stems may get stuck between teeth and cause infection, so we need to ask our pandas to open their mouths so we can have a better look,” he said.




According to the team at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, caretakers train the bears with positive reinforcement in which good behaviour is recognised with rewards.
This includes training them to move around their habitat, stand still on a scale and present parts of their bodies for evaluation upon cue.
As a reward, they are given attention and snacks such as bamboo, apples, pears, sweet potatoes and high-fibre biscuits.
“When we ask the pandas to do something, they can choose to voluntarily participate, knowing they will be rewarded. If they don’t want to participate, they don’t have to,” the zoo said.

It noted that each panda had a unique personality and learned differently, and such interactions helped establish and maintain the bond between animal and keeper.
Back in 2017, the team at the zoo performed a routine check for panda Tian Tian under anaesthesia in which staff took blood and urine samples, conducted an X-ray and performed an ultrasound to look at his organs.
They also performed acupuncture and laser treatment on the bear.
“The acupuncture may help improve some of Tian Tian’s overall muscle tone, and the laser treatment may help suspected arthritis in his left shoulder,” the zoo said.
Elder Sister’s weight: Over 1.6kg
Little Brother’s weight: Over 1.4kg
Development: Eyes opening slightly, leaving the incubator and sleeping in cots


Hong Kong’s Ying Ying recovering slowly since giving birth as panda twins start crawling

Panda Watch: Hong Kong cubs starting to develop their own distinctive features

Panda Watch: Hong Kong twins ‘starting to see the world’, graduate from incubators to cots

Panda personalities: adventurous An An, cautious Ke Ke adjust to Hong Kong at own pace

Hong Kong’s pandas

Normally, one cub spends time with a caretaker as the other is nursed by Ying Ying, who is learning the ropes of motherhood. Photo: Ocean Park

The two cubs were also captured in a rare moment together, with the “Elder Sister” placing her paw on her brother’s arm. Photo: Ocean Park

“Elder Sister” now weighs more than 1.6kg. Photo: Ocean Park

Ke Ke (left) and An An arrived from Sichuan province last week. Photo: Ocean Park

Ke Ke arriving at Hong Kong International Airport last week. The bears’ feeding and sleeping patterns are starting to return to normal as they settle in. Photo: Elson Li

Naming contest for giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong by Beijing open to public

Ke Ke (left) and An An, the giant pandas gifted by Beijing, are expected to be ready to meet the Hong Kong public around Christmas, at the earliest. Photo: Bifengxia Panda Base

An An, one of the giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong, peers out of his transport crate at Hong Kong airport. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong’s Cathay sent ‘top guns’ to transport giant pandas from Chengdu, aided by team of 90

Panda Ke Ke peeks out of her cage as she arrives with her male companion An An at Hong Kong International Airport on September 26. Photo: Elson Li

Cathay Cargo director Tom Owen says the carrier sent its “top guns” to transport the two giant pandas from Chengdu to Hong Kong, aided by a team of 90 professionals from different organisations. Photo: Jonathan Wong

News

Hong Kong

Society

Panda Watch: tracking the growth of Hong Kong’s baby panda twins

Elder Sister (left) and Little Brother. Photo: Ocean Park

Panda-themed merchandise at Ocean Park. Photo: Jelly Tse

Moko’s electronic panda display has been mocked by some social media users. Photo: Eugene Lee

Ocean Park has started serving panda-themed desserts. Photo: Dickson Lee

Panda Watch: twins’ eyes open wider, spotlight shared with Hong Kong newcomers An An and Ke Ke

The cubs’ eyes have yet to fully open, but “separation” between the upper and lower eyelids has begun. Photo: Instagram/pandahk_official

The cubs’ have delighted fans with their playful behaviour on social media. Photo: Instagram/pandahk_official

Panda Watch: Hong Kong cub twins put on healthy weight at 5-week mark

“Little Sister” takes a small nap as she reaches five weeks old. Photo: Handout

“Little Brother” spends time with momma while his sister rests. Photo: Handout

Panda Watch: Hong Kong twins shows off strong hind legs ahead of 1-month birth anniversary

The twins will mark their one-month birthday on Saturday. Photo: Ocean Park

Ocean Park has said it is exploring product ideas to tie-in with the birth of the twins. Photo: Ocean Park

Fu Bao and Everland Resort zookeeper Kang Cheol-won have enjoyed celebrity status in South Korea. Photo: Handout

Panda Watch: Hong Kong’s cub twins are 3 weeks old and thriving

The fur on “Little Brother” is starting to develop into a panda’s trademark black-and-white coat. Photo: SCMP

“Elder Sister” gets some licks and a cuddle from mum. Photo: Ocean Park

A screengrab of Ying Ying and her cubs from an undated video posted on Thursday. Photo: Instagram/pandahk_official 

Panda Watch: Hong Kong’s cub twins start to develop black-and-white features and sprout fur

Photo: Facebook/Ocean Park Hong Kong

The cub nicknamed “Elder Sister”. Despite being twins, the cubs are growing at different rates, with the girl currently slightly larger than her brother. Photo: Ocean Park

“Little Brother” boasts more pronounced dark patches. Photo: Ocean Park

Ocean Park recently posted a video of Ying Ying being fed a bowl of water sweetened with apples, to encourage her to stay hydrated, recover faster and produce more milk. Photo: Ocean Park

Panda Watch: wiggling and sucking milk, Hong Kong’s cub twins survive first critical days after birth

The latest photos show the cubs have started to sprout sparse fur on their pink skin. Photo: Facebook/Ocean Park 

Twins are developing ever-thicker coats and have got better at regulating their body temperatures


Twins are developing ever-thicker coats and have got better at regulating their body temperatures.


Panda Watch weekly blog

Pandas

Hong Kong society