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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Keepers responsible for looking after the world's only surviving set of giant panda triplets said the cubs were doing well, as they celebrated turning 100 days old on Wednesday. The triplets born at Chimelong are the fourth case of panda triplets ever recorded.
BEIJING >> The world’s only surviving giant panda triplets were doing well as they turned 100 days old Wednesday.
Each weighs more than 11 pounds, up from just over 100 grams at birth. They started teething at around 80 days old and have two small teeth each.
The cubs were born on July 29 within four hours, the female cub first and then her brothers.
Physical exams show the cubs’ health to be ideal, said Dong Guixin, general manager of Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong province.
Starting Wednesday, the cubs will be displayed to visitors for limited times.
The cubs are also taking turns living with their mother for five-day cycles.
“It is imperative to help the triplets form a good relationship with their mother and keep them in close contact. We hope that they can live together if the cubs grow healthily,” Dong said.
According to the park, four births of panda triplets have been recorded, but in each of the previous instances, at least one died due to physical defects or being underweight.
The cubs haven’t been named, but the park is seeking suggestions from the public.
