Panda twins baptised at Vienna zoo
VIENNA (Austia) — Two pandas conceived naturally and born at Vienna zoo, Fu Feng and Fu Ban, were officially baptised on Wednesday (Nov 23), 100 days after their birth.
Panda mother Yang Yang holding her twins (Fu Beng and Fu Ban) at the Tiergarten Schönbrunn Vienna zoo on Sept 3, 2016, about a month after they were born on Aug 7, 2016. Photo: AFP
VIENNA (Austia) — Two pandas conceived naturally and born at Vienna zoo, Fu Feng and Fu Ban, were officially baptised on Wednesday (Nov 23), 100 days after their birth.
The twin cubs were absent from the ceremony attended by China’s ambassador, however, with the male and female being kept away from the public’s gaze until the end of the year.
“The names bring good fortune and it is a special sign that the twins were born in the 45th year of the diplomatic relationship between the People’s Republic of China and Austria,” ambassador Li Xiaosi said.
The name for the female, Fu Feng (Happy Phoenix), was chosen by the zoo while her brother’s name, Fu Ban (Happy Companion), was selected by an online ballot of 12,000 people.
It was decided not to name them before they were 100 days old since around half of newborn cubs die. Today they weigh 5 and 6kg respectively, up from 100g at birth. AFP
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