Three panda cubs born within a week at center in Xi'an

The Qinling Panda Breeding and Research Center in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, celebrated the births of three giant panda cubs last week.

On Aug 17, 6-year-old Yong Yong gave birth to a female cub weighing 152 grams at 12:56 pm.

It was the first panda born at the center this year and Yong Yong's first cub.

She is the youngest mother at the center, said veterinarian Zhang Danhui.

"Generally, female pandas start to gain sexual maturity from the age of 5. A panda at 6 years old is equivalent to a human 18-year-old," he said. "From this perspective, Yong Yong is a young mother."

Being young, Yong Yong lacked experience taking care of her baby. But she's a loving parent, according to staff at the center, and is trying to master all the skills required, including holding the cub in her arms and breastfeeding, and has progressed a lot since the first few days after the baby was born.

In contrast with Yong Yong, 7-year-old Qin Qin, who gave birth to twin females at the center on Saturday, is quite skillful and knows how to cuddle her cubs.

Photos and videos shared by staff showed that one of the cubs was transferred to an incubator for better care, while the other was held by Qin Qin in her arms. The little pink baby stretched out her head from her mother's chest from time to time and gave out little cries.