The twin pandas born at Beauval zoo in central France, who turn two months old on October 2, have "recently opened their eyes," in the latest sign of their successful development. 

The pair, named Fleur de Coton and Petite Neige (Cotton Flower and Little Snow in English) now each weigh more than 2.8kg and are over 30cm long. 

Zoo keepers allowed the twins to join their mother, Huan Huan, in her compound for the first time since birth.

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"Huan Huan is doing very well, she's recovered very well from giving birth," explained ​​Sherine Feillet, a nurse at the zoo. "After giving birth, she was eating a lot less than usual because she had already stocked up on food before, now it's slowly coming back and she's eating more and more."

Panda reproduction, be it in captivity or the wild, is notoriously difficult. However Huan Huan, who is on loan from China, has a proven track record at rearing young, already having given birth to Yuan Meng, the first panda ever born in France.