Giant Panda Cub Birth at Dutch Zoo Boosts Conservation Efforts

A giant panda has given birth to a cub at Ouwehands Dierenpark in the Netherlands, boosting the captive population of the vulnerable species. The zoo announced the birth on Monday, revealing that mother Wu Wen and her cub are doing well. A second cub was born but did not survive.

A giant panda has given birth to a cub at a Dutch zoo, significantly boosting the captive population of this vulnerable species.

Ouwehands Dierenpark announced the arrival on Monday after the birth took place on Friday, sharing footage of mother Wu Wen giving birth. The cub's gender remains undetermined.

"Mother and her cub are in the maternity den and are doing well. Ouwehands Dierenpark is happy and proud that it can again contribute to the conservation of this endangered species in a natural way," the zoo stated.

The video features Wu Wen in a hay bed, with the birth signaled by a high-pitched squeal and low growls. Wu Wen is seen carrying the cub in her mouth.

A second cub was born an hour later but unfortunately died shortly after birth, according to zoo officials.

This marks the second cub born at the zoo, with the first, Fan Xing, born in 2020 under China's "panda diplomacy" program. Fan Xing was sent to China last year to join a breeding program aimed at preserving the species.

For decades, China gifted friendly nations with pandas, its national mascot. Recently, the country has been loaning pandas to zoos on commercial terms.

(With inputs from agencies.)