Wolong, Sichuan: The first photograph of sub-adult twins of wild giant pandas

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Sichuan Wolong Nature Reserve announced on the 17th that an infrared camera shooting screen and video of a pair of wild giant panda sub-adult twins was released, which is also the first time in the world to photograph sub-adult wild giant panda twins.

This is an image captured by an infrared camera in the NiutouShan area in July this year. The picture shows two wild giant pandas of about two years old and almost the same size playing under the trees next to the cold arrow bamboo forest of Niutou Mountain at an altitude of 3,100 meters.

Sub-adult giant pandas refer to giant pandas over 5 years old and over 2 years old who are out of the cub stage, but are not yet underage, "From the size of the wild giant panda's skull and the color of the coat color, we preliminarily determined that this pair of wild pandas is a pair of sub-adult giant pandas." Shi Xiaogang, director of the Mujiangping Protection Station in Wolong Conservation Area, said.

Wang Pengyan, a professor-level senior engineer at the Wolong Conservation Area Management Bureau, analyzed, "According to the preliminary judgment of the images, it is inclined to be a pair of sub-adult wild giant panda twins. From the perspective of behavior, the relationship and way the two pandas in the video play are more like two sub-adults. From the appearance point of view, the snouts of the two pandas in the photo are relatively long, which is a typical feature of childhood pandas, and there is a clear difference between them and adult pandas. Estimated to be more than two years old, it should be a panda born in the summer of 2017. ”

Most panda mothers abandon one because they don't have the energy to raise twin cubs. Wang Pengyan believes, "First of all, Wolong's abundant resources have enough food for the mother panda to raise two cubs to grow up. Secondly, in addition to having a strong motherhood, this panda that chooses to bring two pandas is that its nest is suitable. In Wolong, the panda is the use of tree holes to breed cubs, if you happen to encounter a tight space cave, just enough to accommodate the next female panda, she can put two cubs on the belly, hold in her arms for a long time, because there is no gap, the cubs will not slip to the ground, both breastfeeding and warmth can also work hard for their defecation, so relatively easy and good conditions, prompting the twins to be rarely brought alive by their mothers at the same time. ”

Since last year, Wolong has launched a new round of giant panda surveys, and the staff of the reserve have conducted a comprehensive survey of the giant panda resources in the area through sample line monitoring and infrared trigger camera technology, and found the image in the latest recovery data.

The infrared trigger camera captures the moving images of wild giant panda sub-adult twins, which is of great significance, which not only shows that the natural resources conservation of Wolong in Sichuan is effective and the wild giant pandas have sufficient food; and the image records also provide valuable information for giant panda experts to further study the natural breeding of wild giant pandas in the Qionglai Mountains.

Duan Zhaogang, secretary of the party committee of the Sichuan Wolong National Nature Reserve Management Bureau, said that the infrared camera recorded a pair of wild giant panda sub-adult twins, which is also an important result of Wolong's field investigation. In the next step, Wolong will further accelerate the field investigation of wild giant pandas, including the identification of DNA, and will further optimize the sample line survey route of wild giant pandas to protect giant pandas and their habitats.