appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Wynna Wong

Panda Watch is a weekly blog by the Post that tracks the latest on the baby panda twins – the first to be born in Hong Kong – until they are ready to meet the public. To read our previous blog entries, click here.
Hong Kong’s panda cub twins have had to share the spotlight over the past few days as the city welcomed the arrival of two adult bears from mainland China’s Sichuan province.
The twins have passed the six-week mark, with Ocean Park continuing to delight fans with frequent updates on their growth – thickening fur, increasingly pronounced black and white colours, and constant squeaking as they roll about in their incubators.
Their eyes have yet to fully open, but “separation” between the upper and lower eyelids has begun, according to an Instagram post.
“Then after about a month and a half, [their] eyes will be completely opened,” the post said.
Meanwhile, the city welcomed two new adult pandas gifted by Beijing to celebrate the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty.
The pair – known as An An and Ke Ke until they receive their new Hong Kong names – arrived from Sichuan on Thursday, but will not be ready to meet the public until they have completed at least 30 days of quarantine at Ocean Park.
Caretakers from the park were sent to the mainland ahead of the duo’s arrival to allow the bears to familiarise themselves with at least some of their new humans.

While some internet users are keen to attach human traits and emotions to pandas, the bears’ ability to form bonds with their carers remains questionable.
Solitary animals by nature, pandas become accustomed to humans in close vicinity when living in captivity. But pandas can also be “grumpy” and exhibit “hints of natural behaviours that are more aggressive” and bearlike, according to a 2017 interview the Smithsonian Magazine conducted with an American caretaker.
Aggressive behaviour from pandas in captivity is certainly not unheard of. A video circulating online last week showed a mainland-based panda named Ding Ding chasing, charging at and eventually knocking over a carer who had stopped the bear from going through a door.
The panda briefly held down the staff member, swiping at her with its paws and trying to bite her. Onlookers could be heard shrieking in the background.
But the seriousness of the incident was unclear as the carer appeared to be laughing at some moments.




A similar clip in April showed pandas Yu Ke and Yu Ai at Chongqing Zoo chasing and tripping up a zookeeper who had entered their enclosure to feed them.
The zoo later clarified the pandas were only being “playful” and had not meant to “attack”.
While no pandas or humans were harmed, the zoo held a safety meeting to help prevent similar incidents from happening again.
In 2019, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan issued a public warning that pandas were not always as meek and docile as they appeared, according to state media China Daily.
The base made the call for caution after an eight-year-old girl fell into a panda enclosure and had to be rescued by a guide as curious pandas wandered over.
There are no records of pandas in captivity having killed people.
Development: Eyelids starting to separate, but not yet fully open


Hong Kong can draw on Art March’s success by keeping it authentic

Panda cubs, SpongeBob and Peppa Pig head to Hong Kong arts hub for balloon parade

Pandas alone won’t save Hong Kong’s Ocean Park in the long term

Pandas give Hong Kong’s Ocean Park boost but deficit worsens to HK$275 million

Hong Kong’s pandas

Panda Watch: twins’ eyes open wider, spotlight shared with Hong Kong newcomers An An and Ke Ke

The cubs’ eyes have yet to fully open, but “separation” between the upper and lower eyelids has begun. Photo: Instagram/pandahk_official

The cubs’ have delighted fans with their playful behaviour on social media. Photo: Instagram/pandahk_official

‘Sichuan-flavoured’ food to help Hong Kong’s 2 incoming pandas adjust to new home

Giant pandas Ke Ke (left) and An An, as they are known in Sichuan, will touch down in Hong Kong on Thursday. Photo: Ocean Park

Young dancers perform at a farewell ceremony in Sichuan for the two Hong Kong-bound pandas. Photo: ISD

Tourism chief Kevin Yeung addresses the ceremony in Sichuan. Photo: ISD

Hong Kong to hold naming contest for 2 new giant pandas in October, John Lee says

Ke Ke (left) and An An. Photo: Handout

 Ocean Park has released new photos of Ke Ke and An An (below). Photos: Ocean Park

The upgraded Sichuan Treasures area has many extra elements, including new climbing structures. Photo: Ocean Park

John Lee (right) visits the Sichuan Treasures section at Ocean Park. Photo: Ocean Park

Tourists visit the Giant Panda Adventure section in Ocean Park. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong to create panel to name giant pandas being gifted to city by Beijing

One of the pandas living at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Centre. Beijing has gifted two of the animals to Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

The pair will stay at Ocean Park after they arrive in Hong Kong. Photo: Jelly Tse

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

Panda Watch: tracking the growth of Hong Kong’s baby panda twins

Panda Watch: twin cubs set to make public debut in Hong Kong on February 16

“Elder Sister” (left) and “Younger Brother” are set to meet the Hong Kong public on February 16. Photo: May Tse

“Younger Brother” has chosen a log as his favourite spot in Ocean Park’s Giant Panda Adventure enclosure. Photo: May Tse

“Elder Sister” (right) enjoys lazing and napping on a fork of branches on a tree. Photo: May Tse

Panda Watch: Hong Kong’s twin cubs to make public debut after Lunar New Year

“Elder Sister” (left) and “Younger Brother” have recently started playing and climbing around their enclosure, crawling on grass, climbing up rocks and clawing at trees. Photo: Ocean Park

“Younger Brother” plays with his toys. Photo: Ocean Park

Despite taking an early tumble, “Elder Sister” has learned to enjoy playing on the slide set up by zookeepers. Photo: Ocean Park

Panda Watch: twin cubs start crawling ahead of first Christmas at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park

‘Younger Brother’ has started crawling around his den. Photo: Instagram/ pandahk_official

‘Elder Sister’ and ‘Younger Brother’ have been bonding by playing with one another. Photo: Instagram/ pandahk_official

Panda Watch: Hong Kong’s twin cubs weigh 40 times more than at birth

Hong Kong’s panda cubs. Photo: Instagram/pandahk_official

‘‘Younger Brother” tips the scale at 5.5kg from 112 grams at birth. Photo: Instagram/pandahk_official

Hong Kong’s panda twin cubs will be given ‘caring training’ at 2 to 3 years old

Hong Kong’s panda cubs. Photo: Instagram/ pandahk_official

Male giant panda An An is already undergoing “caregiving training” at the park. Photo: Oscar Liu

Howard Chuk, Ocean Park’s head of zoological operations and conservation, outside the panda enclosure. Photo: Oscar Liu

Panda Watch: how can Hong Kong cash in on panda economy as cubs reach milestone?

Giant Panda Le Le will be back in public  view on Saturday for the first time since August. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong is hoping to get a panda economy running. Photo: Jelly Tse

He Ye and He Hua have captured the hears of visitors. Photo: Facebook/ Panda HeHua & HeYe

Panda fans wait for Fu Bao at South Korea’s Everland amusement park. Photo: AFP

Panda Watch: Hong Kong’s twin cubs ready for 100-day milestone, with festivities planned

Ocean Park will roll out new merchandise and give out free food on November 23 and 24 to celebrate the 100th day of Hong Kong’s twin cubs. Photo: Ocean Park

Fu Bao selects a loaf of bread, which symbolises happiness, on her first birthday in July this year. Photo: Handout

Le Le, the first giant panda born in Singapore, is given an ice cake filled with food on her first birthday in 2022. Photo: AFP

Panda Watch: Hong Kong cubs near 3-month mark, entering exciting and playful phase

“Younger Brother” (left) and “Elder Sister” will soon turn three months old. Photo: Ocean Park

Ying Ying cuddles “Younger Brother” while trying to relax. Photo: Ocean Park

“Younger Brother” (left) and “Elder Sister” were born on August 15. Photo: Ocean Park

Panda Watch: Hong Kong cub ‘winces’ at mother’s poo, experts explain scent marking behaviour

Ke Ke, one of the two adult giant pandas gifted to the city by Beijing. Photo: Instagram. 

Ocean Park has posted a funny moment between “Elder Sister” and Ying Ying in their den, in which the cub appears to wince at her mother’s poo. Photo: Instagram

Adult giant panda, An An, enjoying a snack of bamboo. Photo: Instagram

Panda Watch: Hong Kong cubs’ tails grow rounder, start to ‘disappear’ at 70 days

‘Big Sister’ has black patches around her eyes that look like eyeliner, says zookeeper Elke Wu. Photo: Ocean Park

The tails of “Big Sister” (left) and “Little Brother” have grown rounder and will appear to vanish as they grow older. Photo: Ocean Park

“Little Brother” has louder shrieks than his sister, who is gentler and quieter, zookeeper Elke Wu says. Photo: Ocean Park

Panda Watch: Hong Kong cub twins happier and healthier at 2 months old

Ocean Park shares its latest pictures of “Elder Sister” and “Little Brother”. Photo: Ocean Park Hong Kong

The two panda cubs have come a long way since they were born in August. Photo: Ocean Park Hong Kong

Panda Watch: Hong Kong cubs starting to develop their own distinctive features

Elder Sister (left) and Little Brother. Photo: Ocean Park

Panda-themed merchandise at Ocean Park. Photo: Jelly Tse

Moko’s electronic panda display has been mocked by some social media users. Photo: Eugene Lee

Ocean Park has started serving panda-themed desserts. Photo: Dickson Lee

Panda Watch: Hong Kong twins ‘starting to see the world’, graduate from incubators to cots

Normally, one cub spends time with a caretaker as the other is nursed by Ying Ying, who is learning the ropes of motherhood. Photo: Ocean Park

The two cubs were also captured in a rare moment together, with the “Elder Sister” placing her paw on her brother’s arm. Photo: Ocean Park

“Elder Sister” now weighs more than 1.6kg. Photo: Ocean Park

Panda Watch: Hong Kong cub twins put on healthy weight at 5-week mark

“Little Sister” takes a small nap as she reaches five weeks old. Photo: Handout

“Little Brother” spends time with momma while his sister rests. Photo: Handout

Panda Watch: Hong Kong twins shows off strong hind legs ahead of 1-month birth anniversary

The twins will mark their one-month birthday on Saturday. Photo: Ocean Park

Ocean Park has said it is exploring product ideas to tie-in with the birth of the twins. Photo: Ocean Park

Fu Bao and Everland Resort zookeeper Kang Cheol-won have enjoyed celebrity status in South Korea. Photo: Handout

Panda Watch: Hong Kong’s cub twins are 3 weeks old and thriving

The fur on “Little Brother” is starting to develop into a panda’s trademark black-and-white coat. Photo: SCMP

“Elder Sister” gets some licks and a cuddle from mum. Photo: Ocean Park

A screengrab of Ying Ying and her cubs from an undated video posted on Thursday. Photo: Instagram/pandahk_official 

Panda Watch: Hong Kong’s cub twins start to develop black-and-white features and sprout fur

Photo: Facebook/Ocean Park Hong Kong

The cub nicknamed “Elder Sister”. Despite being twins, the cubs are growing at different rates, with the girl currently slightly larger than her brother. Photo: Ocean Park

“Little Brother” boasts more pronounced dark patches. Photo: Ocean Park

Ocean Park recently posted a video of Ying Ying being fed a bowl of water sweetened with apples, to encourage her to stay hydrated, recover faster and produce more milk. Photo: Ocean Park

Panda Watch: wiggling and sucking milk, Hong Kong’s cub twins survive first critical days after birth

The latest photos show the cubs have started to sprout sparse fur on their pink skin. Photo: Facebook/Ocean Park 

Panda Watch: Hong Kong’s Ying Ying cares for twin cubs together for first time

Panda mum Ying Ying is caring for her twin cubs together for the first time. Photo: Ocean Park

Twins pass six-week mark, as adult panda pair touch down in city to begin 30-day quarantine at Ocean Park


Twins pass six-week mark, as adult panda pair touch down in city to begin 30-day quarantine at Ocean Park.


Panda Watch: twins’ eyes open wider, spotlight shared with Hong Kong newcomers An An and Ke Ke

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Twins pass six-week mark, as adult panda pair touch down in city to begin 30-day quarantine at Ocean Park

Twins pass six-week mark, as adult panda pair touch down in city to begin 30-day quarantine at Ocean Park