Ying Ying, the new panda mother at Ocean Park Hong Kong, has shown a shift in her food preferences following the birth of her twin cubs. Caregivers are now preparing a variety of meals to meet her nutritional needs.

Previously fond of bamboo shoot tips, Ying Ying now favors the bases of the shoots. To encourage her to consume more fiber, caregivers are rolling bamboo leaves into small shapes and enhancing them with flavors she enjoys, such as apples and high-fiber biscuits, according to a post on Ocean Park’s official Facebook page on Sunday.

The dedication of the caregiver team has not gone unnoticed by the park's followers. One user, Wai Yee Chan, expressed gratitude, stating, “Thank you for taking care of Ying Ying day and night.” Another fan, Pluff Pluff Lam, noted, “Ying Ying has gained weight and looks even more beautiful.”

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In a post dated August 29, Ocean Park reported that both panda cubs, now two weeks old, have doubled their weight. The elder sister weighed approximately 328 grams, while her younger brother weighs around 278 grams. Their distinctive black patches continue to develop, and they are expected to be fully covered in black and white fur within the next two weeks.

As Ying Ying's health improves and her maternal instincts strengthen, she has become increasingly engaged in caring for her cubs. According to the park, she “spends her days cuddling, grooming, and feeding one twin at a time, while experts from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda and the park's animal care team rotate the cubs to ensure both receive equal attention.”

Ying Ying and her mate, Le Le, were gifted to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by the central government in 2007. The pair successfully mated in March, leading to Ying Ying giving birth to the twins on August 15 after a five-month gestation period.

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Ocean Park has yet to announce when the public will be able to meet the cubs. Usually, members of the public need to wait till the cubs are six months old, or by February next year.