A panda which was rescued from the devastating earthquake that struck China in May has given birth to twins.

Wildlife officials are said to be delighted by the news which marks the first panda birth since the natural disaster hit the region.

The panda, Guo Guo, had to be evacuated following the quake after much of her habitat in the Wolong Nature Reserve was destroyed.

She, along with several others, was moved when the area was found to be in danger of landslides and lacking in food.

The new mother was taken to the Bifengxia Giant Panda Base where she and experts are looking after the new-borns.

It is said to be the third year running that 12-year-old Guo Guo has given birth – another positive step in the battle to save the animal from the brink of extinction.

Currently, around 1,600 pandas live in the wild, while and additional 180 have been bred in captivity.

Back to News