Giant Panda Shin Shin gave birth on June 12, 2017. The cub was confirmed to be female (see news below). The mother is diligently caring for her cub, and when not in use, she rests lying down with the cub in her arms.
The puppy has grown noticeably; the grayish areas around its eyes, ears, shoulders, front legs, and hind legs have become more distinctly black. Its fur also seems to be gradually getting longer.
Shinshin breastfeeds about 10 times a day. Each feeding lasts 1 to 10 minutes.
Shin Shin mainly eats bamboo and dwarf bamboo. When nursing her cub, Shin Shin sits in a "panda-like" position, and animal keeper offer her food. She also likes bamboo shoots, but considering her digestive system, she is given only 2-3 at a time. Shin Shin excretes about 3 kilograms of feces per day. Normally, this is around 20 kilograms, so it's still a small amount, but this is the right amount for her at the moment.
Since Shinshin is currently eating a lot of bamboo and dwarf bamboo, we are giving her water instead of an electrolyte solution to replenish her fluids. The amount we give her at one time is the same as before, 1 liter. Sometimes she drinks it all, and sometimes she leaves some. She urinates about once a day, which is a normal frequency.
Both mother and child are in a stable condition, but we will continue to provide careful 24-hour childcare and observation by our staff.
*The "bamboo shoots" mentioned in the text are not the kind of bamboo shoots that humans eat, but rather bamboo species that have not yet produced leaves and are in an immature growth stage.
