Nuan Nuan the baby panda plays with her mother, Liang Liang at the Giant Panda Conservation Centre at the National Zoo, in Kuala Lumpur April 7. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — Nuan Nuan, Malaysia’s first locally-born giant panda is now an elder sister.

Malaysia’s pair of giant pandas Xing Xing and Liang Liang have yet again created history by giving birth to their second cub on Sunday at 7.50am.

Natural Resources and Environment minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi said he was happy with the birth of Malaysia’s second giant panda.

“Malaysia is the first country in the world that received the natural birth of a cub just one and a half years after the first,” he told reporters at a press conference.

He added that the pandas will be quarantined under strict supervision to ensure optimal health before they are returned to their usual enclosure in Zoo Negara for public display.

The cub weighed in at 150 grams, but its gender has yet to be determined as the cub’s mother Liang Liang is still protecting it during the milking phase.

Liang Liang was reported to have been pregnant for 89 days before giving birth.

Wan Junaidi also said that the birth is proof that Malaysia’s management of the Giant Panda Conservation centre was in good condition.

“Through this programme, we can carry out research on giant pandas in addition to increasing local expertise in artificial insemination and controlled environments,” he said.

Wan Junaidi added that China will be informed of the birth soon.

On May 2, 2014, Malaysia received the pair of giant pandas from China as a celebratory token of the two country’s 40-year diplomatic ties.

Nuan Nuan, the first born to the pair was born on August 18, 2015 and returned to China on November 14 last year as a fulfillment of the agreement by the two countries.

Wan Junaidi said discussions will be carried out with China to determine if the second cub can be raised and kept in Malaysia.