Giant panda gives birth at Washington’s National Zoo

Officials at Washington’s National Zoo confirmed on Twitter that the giant female panda named Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) appears to be in labor after her water broke.

Besides Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, the National Zoo is home to their female cub Bao Bao, who turns two on Sunday.

The gender of the cub will not be determined until a later date, and the new cub is now unnamed. Newborn giant panda cubs are the size of a large mouse.

Her experience highlights the fragility of panda newborns, and zoo officials are keeping close watch on the expectant mother using the zoo’s “pandacam”. Its lungs had not fully developed.

“This is still a very fragile time for this cub”, he said of the first arrival, which chief veterinarian Don Neiffer said was showing healthy signs, including vocalizing. Keepers have heard it squeal and grunt. After Bao Bao was born, it was about five months before she made her public debut. Visitors can also see Tian Tian and two-year-old Bao Bao (whose birthday is actually tomorrow) in their outdoor habitat and on the panda cam. The panda team began preparing preparing for a birth when they saw Mei Xiang’s water break at 4:32 pm, and she was already having contractions.

If the cub survives, it would be the 17-year-old panda’s third surviving offspring since her introduction to the National Zoo more than a decade ago.

Then, about four and a half hours later, a second cub arrived.

The new cub was the second in two years.

The National Zoo Tweeted, “Panda cub born at 5:34pm live on panda cam”.

He said experts had been trying to conduct regular ultrasound tests, which give an image of the uterus, on the panda.