BERLIN, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- A bright red wooden "1", colorful ice treats made from beetroot and carrot juice, and a bamboo stick for a birthday candle ... this was the scene in Zoo Berlin's panda enclosure on Friday as twins Leni and Lotti marked their very first birthday in true panda style.
The playful sisters wasted no time in getting festive: while one confidently climbed the bamboo "candle", the other curiously licked the ice treats, and before long, they were tumbling around in a joyful wrestling match.
Born on Aug. 22, 2024, Leni and Lotti, known in Chinese as Meng Hao and Meng Tian, are the second pair of giant pandas ever born in Germany. Their parents, Meng Meng and Jiao Qing, arrived in Berlin from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China in 2017.
"They have developed wonderfully," said Florian Sicks, a biologist at the zoo who has followed the pandas since birth. "The two were born blind, deaf, hairless, and incredibly small, weighing just around 150 grams. But today, these once-tiny creatures weigh 21 kg, have their iconic black-and-white coats, and move through their enclosure with playful confidence."
"They are still primarily dependent on the milk of their mother, 12-year-old Meng Meng, but they've already started nibbling on bamboo and seem to enjoy it," Sicks told Xinhua.
True to panda tradition, the twin sisters are masters of relaxation. Climbing a little, flopping a little, and napping a lot, Leni and Lotti know how to enjoy the simple things on their birthday.
Norbert Zahmel, the zoo's head keeper, said it's not easy to tell the twin sisters apart by appearance alone, but their personalities offer some clues. "Lotti is the bolder of the two, while Leni tends to be a bit more relaxed," he explained. "But together, they're a true dream team and an incredible stroke of luck for us."
The birth of the twins was the result of intensive cooperation by an international team of experts. Thanks to a long-standing and close partnership between Berlin Zoo and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chinese experts stayed in Berlin for at least eight months to provide crucial support throughout the prenatal preparations, birthing process, and early cub care.
"The two sides now continue to stay in touch via email, regularly exchanging expertise and advice," Sicks said, describing the collaboration as "highly harmonious."
"With fewer than 2,000 adult giant pandas in the wild, every single cub represents an important contribution to the conservation of this endangered species," he added.
The twin sisters are expected to stay in Germany for about another year and a half before they are moved to China.
Berlin resident Manuel Richter brought his two children and a beloved panda soft toy to the zoo for this special occasion. "My kids absolutely love giant pandas," he said. "Being able to see the panda cubs play and roll around in real life is such a special experience."
