Researcher checks the first newborn (Sichuan News/Zhao Yan)

On August 3rd, returnee panda Sulin gave birth to a set of twin baby pandas at China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center. These are the first twin pandas born this year at the research center.

Sulin and Yuanyuan mated naturally on March 20th according to journalists from Sichuan News. In order to guarantee successful conception, researchers also used Lulu’s seminal fluid for artificial insemination on March 20th and 21th.

On July 9th, researchers noticed that Sulin started to reduce her diet and predicted her pregnancy. In the early morning of August 3rd, Sulin began her labor. At 4:30 in the afternoon, Sulin had the first baby.