Giant panda twins born in SW China

CHENGDU - A female giant panda has successfully given birth to panda twins in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the first pair ever born globally this year, local conservation workers said Sunday.

A panda named Haizi gave birth to the first cub at 4:54 p.m. Saturday and the second one ten minutes later, according to workers at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at the Wolong Nature Reserve.

The mother has yet to release the first cub from her embrace, but staff said it should be a healthy cub, given its large size and the volume of the sounds it has been making.

The second cub is a female and weighs 79.2 grams, the staff said.

Haizi became pregnant after mating with Bai Yang and Yi Bao in March. She began to exhibit prenatal behavior in late May.

Most giant pandas are not good breeders when in in captivity. Pandas are known for being sexually inactive and cubs are often born between July and September.