Sex of newborn panda still unknown as mother is overly protective

KUCHING: The sex of the panda cub born five days ago at the National Zoo in Hulu Kelang, Selangor cannot be determined yet, as the mother is overly protective of its offspring.

Natur a l Re sour c e s and Environment Minister, Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the zoologists there, however, confirmed that the baby is healthy and should be left alone to be breastfed by its mother over a period of a few months before a thorough examination could be conducted on the cub.

He said although those taking care of the pandas at the zoo could go near the mother and touch it, it would, however, not let anyone touch its newborn cub.

He noted that the zoologists had done a wonderful job of creating a very conducive environment for the pair of giant pandas, Xing Xing and Liang Liang, at the National Zoo’s Panda Conservation Centre, that the pair could produce a second cub within a short time after the first.

“This is an extraordinary achievement. It is understood that China had sent out 12 pairs of giant pandas to various countries across the world, but Malaysia is one country that’s able to make its loaned pair produce a cub twice within a short period.”

Wan Junaidi, who is also the MP for Santubong, said this at a press conference after handing out school bags to students in the parliamentary constituency, here, yesterday.

Xing Xing and Liang Liang had arrived in Malaysia on May 21, 2014 as a symbol of 40 years of close diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia.

The pair’s first cub, born on Aug 18, 2015 and named Nuan Nuan, was sent back to China last year as part of the panda loan agreement between the two countries. — Bernama