A 19-year-old female giant panda set a world record in reproduction after giving birth Tuesday to her 13th baby, experts said.

Yu Jianqiu, vice director of the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center, said the mother, known as Qing Qing, is expected to give birth to another baby shortly as experts believe she was carrying twins.

 

Born in 1984, Qing Qing has produced 13 babies in nine births, including two twins, since she first gave birth in 1989.

 

Qing Qing got pregnant between Mar.30 and Apr. 1 when she mated with two male pandas, also in captivity, said Yu.

 

"It is really a great achievement for giant pandas become pregnant while in captivity," the vice-director said.

 

The giant panda is found in the wild in China. The cute and graceful animal is one of the world's most endangered species and currently, there are only 1,000 living in the wild worldwide. The number of pandas in captivity totals 140.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2003)