Rare giant panda born in Belgium
Updated: 2016-06-02 16:53
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||
Hao Hao, a 6-year-old giant panda born in China, eats bamboo at the Pairi Daiza wildlife park in Brugelette, Belgium September 28, 2015.[Photo/Agencies] |
BRUSSELS -- A giant panda has given birth in a Belgian zoo, a rare event for an endangered species that numbers fewer than 2,000 worldwide.
The Pairi Daiza park said in a statement on Thursday that the cub was born overnight to six-year-old Hao Hao and her mate Xing Hui.
A spokeswoman declined to specify the sex or name of the newborn, saying there would further statements later in the day.
The zoo issued a photograph of the pink, blind, hairless cub, just a few inches long, being held in its mother's jaws. Her "probable" pregnancy was announced just two weeks ago, accompanied by caution about detecting the tiny foetus.
The zoo cooperated with experts from the animals' native China to treat the mother by artificial insemination.
World nature organization WWF says a survey in 2014 found only 1,864 giant pandas living in the wild, almost double the numbers in the late 1970s and 17 percent up in a decade.
As part of efforts to save the species, which has been hit hard by human encroachment on the highlands where they survive almost entirely on a diet of bamboo, more than 300 pandas now live in zoos, mostly in China.
Pairi Daiza said Belgium had become the third country in Europe to see the successful reproduction of pandas after Austria and Spain. The last successful birth in Europe was at Madrid three years ago.
Related Stories
Belgium: female panda Hao Hao of Pairi Daiza park possibly pregnant 2016-05-19 09:31
Japanese-born panda delivers cub in China 2016-05-31 19:48
Panda admirers from Europe take part in a two-month driving tour 2016-05-27 15:44
Wild panda courtship recorded in Sichuan 2016-04-12 04:41
Today's Top News
Germany, France, Italy urge Britain not to waste time in divorcing EU
Britain urged not to waste time in divorcing EU
Turkey's Erdogan apologizes to Putin
UK opposition leader Corbyn says will not resign
10 hurt in rollercoaster accident in central Scotland
Vote poses China-UK trade ties challenge
China respects Brexit decision
UK vote blows the whole European plan wide open
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Hollywood snaps up rock star's dog film |
Chinese people welcome dispossessed |
The can-do generation to the fore |
Riding the wave |
Leisure giants buoy cruise market |
She followed her heart |