World Report: September 1, 2007 Vol. #13 Iss. #1
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Grades 4-6
Pure Pandamania!
It has been a bear-y big summer for giant pandas! On August 13, two sets of twin panda cubs were born at a breeding center in China. The rare, same-day births are good news for the endangered species. Only 34 cubs were born in captivity in all of 2006.
Last month, the San Diego Zoo, in California, also welcomed a new arrival. Giant panda Bai Yun gave birth to a cub on August 3. It is the fourth cub for the experienced mama bear. "(Bai Yun) was keeping that cub so content it didn't cry at all," says Dr. Ron Swaisgood, cohead of the zoo's panda program. "It made a few squawks and that was it."
Newborn pandas are about the size of a stick of butter. There are fewer than 1,600 pandas living in the wild.
