Sichuan: The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) has announced the birth of the first giant panda cub in captivity this year. The cub was born at CCRCGP's Shenshuping Base in China's southwestern Sichuan province.

According to Anadolu Agency, the cub was delivered on June 21 to Linglang, a first-time mother, after a successful natural mating with male panda Yaxing in early March. Wu Honglin, deputy director of the base, stated that Linglang, at seven years old, displayed strong maternal instincts.

Both Linglang and the cub are in good health, with veterinary teams continuing to monitor their progress. Since the 1980s, the CCRCGP has witnessed a significant increase in the panda population, growing from just six pandas in 1983 to over 380 today.