On October 24, 2015, “Discovering Twin Cubs—Global Event to Promote Conservation Awareness of Giant Pandas” was launched in Chengdu.It is sponsored and planned by the United Nations Development Programme, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tencent.com and PANDAPLA, and co-hosted by NGOs Conservation International, WildAid and The Nature Conservancy.
The year of 2015 is the rare “Year of Panda Twin Cubs”. This year the Chengdu Panda Base aided 8 panda mothers across the world to birth 15 cubs. 6 of those mothers live at the Chengdu Panda Base and all of them gave birth to twins, resulting in the rate of twins breeding to reach 100% and creating a new record in giant panda breeding history Tile other 2 mothers were at Canada and Beijing. Chengdu Panda Base and Chongqing Zoo cooperated with Canada’s Toronto Zoo to breed panda twins, and with Beijing Zoo where they helped breed one cub.Currently the Chengdu Panda Base is the facility that has the largest of captive giant pandas in the world, with a population of 152.
During the ceremony the organizer specially invited five twins fans of giant pandas to attend this event. The twins included Jiang Wenwen and Jiang Tingting, winners of the Duet Synchronized World Cup, twin brothers Li Siqi and Li Siyuan, twin sisters Song Siqi and Song Siyu, twin sisters Liao Ziling and Liao Ziqiao, twin brothers Xie Yuhao and Xie Yufei.
After the speeches of Mr. Patrick Havennan of UNDP China, Mr. Steve Blake, Jiang Wenwen and Jiang Tingting, Dr. Zhang Zhihe introduced the background, contents and important future significance of this event and announced the big prize of the event-to name Olympic panda JingJing’s cubs, and a one week panda keeper experience. Adorable 12 panda twin cubs of the Chengdu Panda Base were shown to the world attracting the attention of global panda fans and media in Chengdu.