Panda Update – Friday, February 3

Happy 5-month birthday to Ya Lun and Xi Lun! The time has really flown by for the whole Panda Care Team. The girls are now about the same weight, 7.550 kilograms (or 16.65 pounds). By now everyone knows that Ya Lun has a shaved patch in her saddle to aid in telling the cubs apart from the cameras, but what about other ways to tell them apart?

Xi Lun has black markings on either side of her lower lip, but Ya Lun has full black markings along her lower lip. Ya Lun is also a bit darker on the top of her nose than Xi Lun. So if you can’t see their saddles but can see their faces, this should help you distinguish who is who.
Stephanie B.
Curator of Mammals