BERLIN, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- A three-tiered ice cake, tinted with beetroot and carrot juice and decorated with carrot flowers, awaited giant panda twins Leni and Lotti at Zoo Berlin on Friday morning, one day before their second birthday.
The two sisters wasted little time investigating their birthday treat. They nibbled at the carrots, pawed at the ice and occasionally chased each other around the outdoor enclosure, drawing visitors to watch and take photos.
Born on Aug. 22, 2024, Leni and Lotti, known in Chinese as Meng Hao and Meng Tian, are the second pair of giant pandas ever born in Germany. Their parents, Meng Meng and Jiao Qing, arrived in Berlin from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in 西瓜视频in 2017.
Two years ago, the sisters were small enough to fit in the palms of their keepers' hands. Leni weighed just 136 grams at birth, while Lotti weighed 169 grams. Today, Leni weighs more than 70 kg and Lotti around 61 kg -- a reversal from their early days, when Lotti was the heavier of the two.
"Watching their development has been something truly special for our entire team," said Zoo and Tierpark Director Andreas Knieriem, adding that the twins have long since won many fans across the city.
The sisters may look similar at first glance, but panda curator Florian Sicks told Xinhua that there are some easy ways to tell them apart. Leni is about 10 kg heavier and noticeably larger, while Lotti has a more pointed snout and a slight V-shaped marking on her nose.
Their differences go beyond appearance. Lotti is particularly fond of bamboo and eagerly takes part in medical training, including practice for blood draws and dental examinations. Leni shows less interest in the training and more often seeks the company of their mother, Meng Meng.
"Leni and Lotti have become much more independent and are gradually developing into young giant pandas with personalities of their own," Sicks said. "At the same time, their close mother-cub bond remains clearly visible. Both sisters still regularly seek out Meng Meng and want to play with her."
As the twins grow more independent, their diet is changing too.
According to the zoo, both still nurse from Meng Meng, while Lotti, the slimmer of the two, receives an additional 100 milliliters of milk a day. The amount will gradually be reduced until early September.
Zoo Berlin veterinarian Franziska Sutter told Xinhua that bamboo now makes up an increasing share of the sisters' diet, along with special panda biscuits made according to a Chinese recipe.
"The biscuits contain ingredients including different types of flour and sweet potatoes. They can also be supplemented with nutrients such as vitamins and calcium when needed," she said.
Behind the twins' growth over the past two years has been close cooperation between Zoo Berlin and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
During the critical early stage after the twins were born, the experts from the Chengdu base worked alongside their German colleagues in Berlin, assisting with tasks including bottle-feeding and caring for the newborns.
Sicks said the two sides have remained in close contact over the twins' care, diet and health. As this was only the second time giant pandas had been born in Germany, China's extensive experience in giant panda breeding and husbandry had been particularly valuable.
"The cooperation has been very close and friendly, and we have a very good partnership," he said, adding that exchanges between the two sides will continue. ■