(ECNS)-- A pigeon panda pair, born to a captive mother and a wild father in Southwest China's Sichuan Province in July, was named Hehe (harmony) and Meimei (happiness) by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda on Wednesday.
Their mother, Caocao, 16, was released into the wild in February ahead of the mating season this year. She gave birth to the twins on July 25.
The birth was significant to researchers because the cubs are the first panda twins born to both captive and wild parents, marking new progress in China's efforts to increase the genetic diversity of its captive pandas.
The names Hehe and Meimei were inspired by the animated series Krtek a Panda (The Little Mole and Panda) and Animal Choir.
Zhang Zhizhong, Party chief of the center, said the center hopes to promote public awareness of giant pandas in innovative ways by combining virtual reality animation and the bears in real life.
