Atlanta ZooIf this isn't the cutest time-lapse video of two panda twins' first 100 days, then please send us the link to whatever video you're watching. It sounds precious.
Zoo Atlanta's baby pandas, the first panda twins born in the United States in 26 years, have officially turned 100 days old, which means that they have been given names. To celebrate, Atlanta released this squee-worthy time-lapse video.
"One hundred days of ‘Cub A' and ‘Cub B' are over and the twin giant panda cubs have officially been named Mei Lun and Mei Huan," Zoo Atlanta announces alongside the video.
For the first 16 days, they look SO WEIRD. Like little pink aliens. By day 25, they actually start to look like pandas and by day 40 they're adorable. By day 95 we want one. Right now. To cuddle.
The baby boys, born two minutes apart on July 15 to mother Lun Lun and father Yang Yang, are not only the first pair of twins born in the U.S. in over two decades, but the first surviving set of giant panda twins born in the U.S. ever.
"In the wild, giant panda moms typically care for only one cub when twins are born. Thus, it is normal in the wild for only one of the twins to survive," Zoo Atlanta explained in the comments of the YouTube video.
They continue, "Giant panda twins have survived in zoos within and outside of China. Usually this is accomplished by rotating the cubs with the mother for the first few months. However, giant pandas are born very tiny, and there is a high risk of mortality in the first few months."
As the video is time-lapse, featuring only a few seconds of every 10-or-so days, we miss a lot of Mei Lun and Mei Huan's milestones. Thankfully, Zoo Atlanta gives updates on their site (which also features a panda cam, just FYI!)
Zookeeper Jennifer A. says, "Both cubs are getting really good at standing... Their movements are still pretty clumsy, and sometimes when they try to walk they appear to be making frog-like or inchworm-like movements all around the nest box."
Which sounds adorable.
Meanwhile, Curator of Mammals, Rebecca Snyder, PhD, explains, "A few PandaCam viewers have asked when we can expect Mei Lun and Mei Huan to start urinating and defecating on their own. They'll start to do this on their own at around 4 months of age."
OK, who asked that last one? Fess up. Stop asking about the pandas pooping!