Captive pigeon pair panda cubs born in Northwest China's Shaanxi

XI'AN -- A giant panda gave birth to a pigeon pair of cubs Wednesday at a breeding base in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, local authorities said Thursday.

The male cub was born at 12:52 pm weighing 122 grams and its 170-gram twin sister was born at 1:28 pm at the Shaanxi Rare Wild Animals Rescue and Breeding Research Center, the center said.

The 19-year-old mother, Zhu Zhu, underwent artificial insemination in March and her gestation period this time was 105 days. The staff at the base took immediate measures after the experienced mother started to show prenatal behaviors Tuesday.

The giant panda was scientifically discovered 150 years ago and named in Ya'an, in Southwest China's Sichuan province. It remains one of the world's most endangered species.

Shaanxi is now home to 345 wild giant pandas, accounting for 18.5 percent of China's total. The wild fur babies' habitats cover more than 360,000 hectares in the province, with potential habitats exceeding 240,000 hectares.