C o v e r    S t o r y Say Nihao, Wave Zaijian Photos by Tamako Sado

There are only about 1,100 left in China. At least two look like they are enjoying the time of their lives.

"Rare things are precious," says the Chinese proverb. Jing Hui and Jing Gang celebrated their first birthday on September 25. Their future is uncertain. It's possible they will soon both be leaving Beijing. "When two panda are born together, the mother typically abandons one," says Wangmin, Beijing Zoo head keeper. "In the past, this meant the abandoned baby was almost sure to die." Not this time. Both 90-kilogram Beijing bears are three generations removed from wild pandas and both appear very healthy. Since 1963 when the zoo's breeding program began, 59 pandas have been raised, 30 surviving. DNA testing revealed Le Le's twins actually have two different father-- Liang liang is Jing Hui's dad and Ling Ying is Jing Gang's dad.

Jing Gang makes a bold first attempt at climbing a tree.

It is extremely difficult for artificially raised giant pandas to mate naturally. Female pandas are in heat only once a year and then only for three to five days. They and often reject amorous advances from potential mates.

Jing Hui's name translates badly into something like "Bestowed Favor Capital". A Japanese bank clerk who made a donation has a daughter called "Li Huizi" in Chinese, and so the younger panda recently became Jing Hui. Jing Gang means "Strong Capital".

They enjoy two meals a day. Supper comes at 5 pm. The brothers Jing don't eat at the same time as their mother Le Le, however, as she would probably eat all their food too. They have milk, fruit, carrots, bamboo and even cooked sweet potato. Le Le mostly sucks on bamboo.

The twins eat a late lunch around 3, their mother eats around 4 and they all go inside by 5 pm for some sleep.

Jing Hui and Jing Gang sleep in the same cage as Le Le as the zoo wants the cubs to learn from their mother.

Pandas are reckoned to have an IQ equivalent to a 1-year-old human child, according to some official Chinese media.

Today, only 1,100 of the nation's most famous animals actually live in the wild, squeezed into the far corners of China. Endangered wild animals end up relying on zoos for their servival.

"Pandas are going to become extinct. It's only a matter of time," says Wang. "There is an urgent need for all of humanity to protect them."

Pay attention to me-- Jing Gang falls off a chair.

Unsuccessful, he moves to interrupt Le Le and Hui.

After breakfast, the Beijing panda family enjoy nothing more than a stirring game of twister.

Now you're got it-- Jing Gang climbs through the trees with the greatest of ease. Pandas can also swim.

Lazy rainy days.

Losing face.

Jing Gang's first tree- scaling adventure leaves its mark, but the scar soon healed.

5 pm: Time for bed.

Photographer Tomako Sado spent every morning for six months buying tickets into Beijing Zoo.

Home