Written/Compiled and Reported by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel Life Network
Weighing over 7,246 grams, "Round Cub" is now 109 days old. Her only food is her mother "Round Round"'s milk. Although she is currently observed to nurse just once or twice a day, her weight is indeed steadily increasing.
Round Cub, who is developing well, has a steadily rising weight. (Image source / From Taipei Zoo official website)
In addition to showing the results of "Round Round"'s nursing through her weight, "Round Cub" also gives back nutrients to her mom through her bowel movements. Some undigested nutrients are found in "Round Cub"'s feces, which "Round Round" eats when stimulating her to defecate.
Giant pandas are among the animals where fertilized eggs experience delayed implantation. Newborn cubs are very underdeveloped, with their eyes closed, bodies pink, and covered in sparse white fetal fur. At half a month old, they are nursed around six times a day. The frequency decreases as the cub grows, and by 3–4 months old, the cub is more active but still relies solely on breast milk, with nursing reduced to once or twice a day, and the cub weighs around 6–7 kilograms. After birth, the cub's digestive system is still developing, with a small stomach capacity. As the body rapidly grows, digestion and absorption abilities gradually strengthen.
"Round Cub" is currently in good developmental condition and is gradually progressing from crawling to taking a few steps on her own. Her front limbs are now quite strong, but her hind legs still need more strength, so you’ll see her managing to lift her body and move, but her steps are still unsteady—sometimes she takes a few steps before falling or sitting down to rest.
Under her mother "Round Round"'s daily care, Round Cub has now surpassed 7 kilograms in weight. (Image source / From Taipei Zoo official website)
The now increasingly lively and active "Round Cub," as her mobility improves, has started to wiggle and run around. When zookeepers are cleaning her and her mother "Round Round"'s enclosure, "Round Cub," who was previously placed in the birthing room to practice walking, will carefully listen to the rustling sound of bamboo branches being collected or the broom sweeping the floor, locate the source of the sound, and move toward it. Like a little follower, when zookeepers are working, she’ll wiggle along beside them, drawn to anything moving within her sight—zookeepers, brooms, bamboo leaves, or buckets. If she’s put back in the birthing room and told to stay put, she’ll even grumble unhappily.
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Round Cub learning to walk, looking adorable. (Image source / From Taipei Zoo official website)