Giant panda Mei Xiang gives birth to cub at National Zoo

Zoo personnel are monitoring Mei through their panda cams, which may be overloaded at any time due to the popularity of the pandas. “I would love to witness this delivery”, one wrote on the zoo’s Facebook page.

It is possible that the babies will be taken to China, which retains ownership of all pandas loaned to zoos around the world.

“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.

Apart from the two surviving cubs, Mei Xiang gave birth to another stillborn cub in 2013 and in 2012, she gave birth to a cub that died six days later. It was actually a good surprise for many that she successfully delivered two live cubs.

One cub was placed in an incubator, in line with protocol when twins are born. On August. 19, officers on the zoo stated they believed they noticed a fetus in Mei Xiang throughout an ultrasound check.

A first tiny cub – pink, hairless and only about the size of an adult mouse – was born at 5:35 pm (2135 GMT) and Mei Xiang reacted by tenderly picking up the cub. Its lungs had not fully developed. Keepers have heard it squeal and grunt.

A giant panda at the National Zoo is in labor, according to Smithsonian Institution officials.

However, Mei Xiang lifted the cub up shortly after giving birth and was tending to her new born when officials decided to leave her alone for an extended period.

“She’s delivered the cub nicely, scooped it right up”, Neiffer said. Zoo personnel are monitoring Mei through their panda cams.

Hui Hui lives at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province where the mother panda, Mei Xiang is originally from. Who knew the day would end with panda twins? In 2011, the pair had gone five years without producing a cub.

A giant panda at a zoo in the United States has given birth to a cub.

Giant pandas are black and white bears that live in temperate-zone bamboo forests in central China.

The cubs’ birth isn’t the only event being celebrated at the zoo this weekend.

But if the baby bear is born Sunday, it will share the same birthday as its sister, Bao Bao, who is turning 2.