CHENGDU, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) said its Shenshuping Base in southwest China's Sichuan Province had welcomed the year's first giant panda cub born in captivity.

The cub was delivered at 11:50 p.m. on June 21 to Linglang, a first-time mother, following a successful natural mating with male panda Yaxing in early March.

"Seven-year-old Linglang demonstrated strong maternal instincts," said Wu Honglin, deputy director of the base. "She adeptly cradles and protects her cub, grooms it carefully."

Veterinary teams continue to monitor the pair, who are in good health.

Since the 1980s, the CCRCGP has overcome key challenges in captive breeding, steadily growing the population from just 6 pandas in 1983 to over 380 today.  ■