According to the World Wildlife Foundation, only 1,864 pandas remain in the wild today. And because pandas in captivity have such difficulty becoming pregnant and giving birth, experts have implemented an artificial insemination program to bring this beloved species back from the brink of extinction. One panda in particular that zookeepers have helped is a panda called Hao Hao, and now a video of her and her brand new baby boy has gone viral. Hao Hao and her partner have been in residence at the Paira Daiza Zoo in Belgium for the last two years, where staff there, in partnership with experts from China, worked hard to make her artificial insemination successful. When you see the incredible footage of the proud mama holding and washing her tiny male cub, I think you’ll understand why this program is so important—and why the video is taking the internet by storm. Scroll down to see photos and video of Hao Hao and her adorable baby!
In the early hours of one recent morning, an incredibly rare event occurred. Hao Hao the panda, a resident at Paira Daiza Zoo in Belgium, delivered a tiny baby boy.
The hairless panda cub weighed about 6 oz. and resembled a “little, pink sausage.”
Photos of Hao Hao cradling the tiny baby in her mouth and proudly showing off her adorable little one are going viral, and it’s easy to see why!
Watch the amazing footage here:
Please share so that more people see this precious moment of an extremely rare panda cub!
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