Zhang Ka and cubs
Zhang Ka gave birth to twins on August 20 in a semi-wild enclosure at Bifengxia (BFX). Zhang Ka mated with Bai Yang (such a handsome and the keepers say “experienced” male) on March 22, 23 and gave birth 5 months later. There are two cubs one male and one female. There are three semi-wild enclosures at BFX and some of the cubs born at BFX will be trained in the semi-wild enclosures as part of the reintroduction training program. The plan is to select 6 females for the reintroduction training program and the cub will be raised entirely in a semi-natural enclosure with no (or close to no) contact with humans, with the hope that this will encourage more natural behaviors giving the cubs a better chance for survival once they are reintroduced into the wild.
This birth makes me super excited to go back and get started on our research again. It’s nice to realize that the final goal is to get more pandas out into the wild and our project will help obtain that goal by increasing reproductive success in the captive breeding program.
Congrats to Zhang Ka!
Go here for the full story (in Chinese).
