Berlin Zoo reveals names of adorable panda twin cubs

Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan.
(Image credit: AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Meet Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan.

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The panda twin cubs were born at the Berlin Zoo this summer. Their names were revealed on Monday, following the Chinese tradition of announcing monikers 100 days after birth. Meng Xiang means "desired dream," while Meng Yuan means "fulfilled dream." In addition to their names, the Berlin Zoo also announced that the cubs are boys and both weigh 13.2 pounds.

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Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan are the first giant pandas ever born in Germany; pandas are endangered and there are only about 2,000 in the wild. Their parents, mom Meng Meng and dad Jiao Qing, arrived in Germany from China two years ago. During Monday's naming ceremony, reporters were able to see the cubs, who were comfortable inside a clear box with a heating pad and blanket. One of the pandas dozed off while the other crawled around and kept showing off its backside to the cameras, The Associated Press reports. As soon as they can walk on their own — likely early next year — the cubs will go on public display. Catherine Garcia

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.