Introducing Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, Twin Giant Pandas Born In Tokyo Zoo

Back in June, Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens celebrated a milestone with the birth of twin giant pandas. This Friday, they were named Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said, Kyodo News reported.

Photo Insert: Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei

The zoo plans to allow the public to see the pandas, their names, when combined meaning "leading to the future from a bright dawn," from next January.

The zoo had solicited ideas from the public for their names and received around 192,000 suggestions in 14 days until Aug. 20. The names were decided by a selection committee that excluded the names of other pandas in Japan as well as the names of specific characters.

Lei Lei, the second most popular choice, garnered 7,617 votes, while Xiao Xiao gained 482 votes.

The male panda Xiao Xiao and female panda Lei Lei turned 100 days old on Oct. 1 and weigh over 6 kilograms. Their birth on June 23 marked the first time Japan's oldest zoo had witnessed the birth of twin pandas.

"We want to give comfort and energy (to the people) amid continued anxiety and tension over the coronavirus pandemic and natural calamities," said Yutaka Fukuda, director of the zoo.

The cubs were born to mother Shin Shin and her mate Ri Ri, who are also parents to 4-year-old female panda Xiang Xiang. The pair, on loan from China and both aged 16, also had a cub in July 2012, but the cub died six days after its birth due to pneumonia.

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