Congratulations to our winning Cub Confidential subscribers who aced panda trivia! The 100 Day Naming Celebration is going to be packed full with a double dose of cuddly cubs. 
Jennifer Webb, Keeper I, watches the cub overnight in the panda nursery with our colleague from Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Deng Tao. We don’t know how they manage to deal with all of this cuteness! Jen has this to share with Cub Confidential:
“In-between cub swaps Wednesday night, Cub B got to spend some time with his little (but older) brother Cub A while Lun Lun was eating bamboo. Cub A had been zonked out, spread-eagle on his back in the “playpen” until B arrived and decided that it was time to have a serious conversation with his brother. B climbed up on top of A, who clearly was not in the mood and just wanted to go back to sleep. B was relentless for a few minutes, grunting intently at his brother who was trying his hardest to get out from under his bigger brother. B eventually gave up on the unwanted social time and wiggled over to the other side of the 'playpen,' and both cubs soon fell fast asleep. Thankfully I was able to grab my camera and take a few pictures even though we had the lights off in the building for the 'big boys' who were sleeping on the other side!"
 
 
As you may know, Cub B was born the bigger cub, and has managed to keep his weight up. Cub A is doing well too, but the team would like to see him maintain his weight gain. Rebecca Snyder, PhD, Curator of Mammals, wanted to update Cub Confidential on the twins’ nursing:
“We weigh the twins when they are swapped and after nursing bouts. Cub B makes the most of his nursing sessions and regularly gains 75 to 100 grams each time he nurses. Cub A also nurses regularly and normally, but he tends to gain less weight after each bout, and it varies quite a bit. Last week, he had a weight plateau for a few days. He was nursing regularly, but not gaining weight. After some discussion with Deng Tao, we decided to supplement both cubs with small amounts of formula to make sure they are getting enough milk to continue to gain weight steadily. The formula is the same we used in the first 24 hours after they were born, but the volume is greater of course. It's a combination of Esbilac (puppy formula) and Enfamil (human formula). This has been used successfully with many giant panda cubs. The twins are now both offered a small amount of formula twice a day. Cub A has responded well to this. He readily drinks the formula from a bottle, and he is gaining weight again. Cub B is not so enthusiastic. He usually refuses the formula. That's okay, and we don't force him. His weight is good and his weight gain has been steady. Both cubs are still nursing well and regularly from Lun Lun too. Cub A actually gained 138 grams Thursday night from nursing, which is a lot even for his brother. Lun Lun's weight is still above average, and her body condition is good. She seems to have enough milk for both cubs, but we are helping her out a little just to make sure. Hers and the twins' behavior and weights will determine if we continue formula supplementation long-term or not.”
Thanks, Rebecca! Two growing boys need their nutrients. We’re so glad that the Panda Management Team is taking such good care of Lun Lun and her cubs.
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