The first German-born panda cubs, Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan, will officially make their debut in front of visitors on Thursday this week, Berlin Zoo has announced.

The five-month-old panda twins recently went through a check with the zoo's veterinarian and were found to be ready to follow their mother in their first public outing.

They also received an identification chip, a standard procedure which aims at better monitoring the panda population. The ID chip will provide information about the health of the cubs.

Berlin Zoo's director Dr Andreas Knieriem said he was very satisfied with the health of the two panda cubs and arrangements were being made to make sure that the indoor space within the "Panda Garden" - where the pandas are hosted - is safe and fit for the twins to roam around freely and harmlessly.

The wooden climbing structure used by their mother Meng Meng has been reduced to three small climbing stations. The bathing pool has also been emptied and filled with soft pine mulch.

Visitors can expect to see the two cubs exploring their surroundings, playing and rolling over each other, and trying their teeth at their first bite of bamboo - though it will still be two to four months until they are old enough to eat solid food.

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