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Madrid zoo helping to increase Giant Panda population
Rahul Pathak In Madrid
02:07

 

One month old but still very much under the close watchful eye of their mother Hua Zuiba

Madrid's Aquarium Zoo's male panda twins have come a long way since they first appeared as tiny hairless pink newborns.

But now, despite looking more like very small Giant Pandas, they're still not quite ready to make their full public debut.

They will remain with their mother as they're still too small to be seen by the public.

The first chance people will get to see the baby pandas in person will be in April next year.

 

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Maria Delclaux works for Madrid Zoo Panda Conservation. She told CGTN Europe the births were hugely significant.

"This birth is very important, we only have 2,500 to 3,000 pandas in total in the world, so every one counts, the addition of one or two new pandas is very important for the worldwide total," she explained.

This is the second set of giant panda twins born in Madrid, The other pair arrived in 2010.

China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding sent expert Hu Xianbiao to Madrid to assist with the births.

"I felt very excited when I was requested to go to Spain to help with the birth of the pandas. Although the number of pandas has in general increased, it's still a vulnerable species and needs the protection of everyone," he told CGTN Europe.

Giant Pandas remain one of the world's most at-risk species but thanks to zoos such as the one in Madrid, that trend is slowly reversing.

Giant Pandas are now officially listed as "vulnerable," by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

That's an upgrade from 2016 when they were considered "endangered."

The loan of pandas by China to countries such as Spain has been part of what has become known as "panda diplomacy."

More recently, the country has loaned pandas to zoos on commercial terms.

And judging by the crowds watching Madrid's other panda Xulin, the Aquarium Zoo will certainly benefit commercially when the twins make their first public appearance next year.

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