A pair of panda cubs, both female, were born at South Korea's Everland theme park, marking a historic first for the country. The mother, Ai Bao, delivered the twins last Friday, according to a statement released Tuesday by the park’s operator, Samsung C&T Resort Group.

Both Ai Bao and her new cubs are reportedly healthy. This birth represents a significant milestone for South Korea, as it's the first time panda twins have been born in the nation. The park plans to share updates about the cubs through social media while monitoring their development before introducing them to the public.

Giant pandas, once endangered, have seen a population rebound thanks to extensive conservation efforts. Their numbers have increased from under 1,000 to over 1,800 in the wild and captivity. While wild pandas typically live for about 15 years, those in captivity can live much longer, sometimes reaching 38 years of age.

Ai Bao and the cubs' father, Le Bao, arrived at Everland in 2016 as part of a 15-year lease agreement with China. The pair previously had a female cub, Fu Bao, born in 2020. With the arrival of the twins, Everland’s Panda World, which has attracted 14 million visitors, now houses five pandas.