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Location: National Zoo
Time: During business hours
Zoo Babies at the National Zoo have rekindled interest about Giant Pandas. On July 9, 2005 at 3:41 a.m., a rare and remarkable event took place when Giant Panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a new cub, weighing in at only a few ounces
Because successful breedings are rare for Giant Pandas in captivity outside their native China, new panda’s life is now being recorded by an online Panda Cam for all to see since mom and baby are not yet on public exhibit.
Initially, the new baby may be difficult to see because it is so tiny – only about seven inches long -- pink and covered in sparse, short white hairs. It cries loudly to communicate its needs to its mother and its eyes are tightly closed.
Ever the doting mother, Mei Xiang held her baby for a week before finally putting the cub down, leaving the den and getting a drink of water in a nearby room. Three minutes later, she returned, picked up the cub and placed it onto a mound of hay beside her.
Mother Pandas usually don’t eat during their cub’s first days and weeks, and Mei Xiang followed this exact pattern. Her keepers plan to increase their presence around her den so they can determine when the Mother Panda leaves her baby, making it possible for them to examine the cub in detail for the first time. |