The recent wild weather in central China, to the agony of many travelers, didn't hinder the birth of nine black swan chicks in the zoo of Wuhan, the ice and snow covered capital of Hubei Province.

A black swan couple lead their new-born babies to swim in Wuhan Zoo on January 28. 

The hatch by an adult black swan couple on Monday broke the breeding record of eight in the zoo. Generally, a black swan lay five to seven eggs each time, an official of the zoo said.

(Xinhua News Agency, Hubei Daily January 29, 2008)