Giant Panda Mei Xiang became a proud mother yesterday when she gave birth to a panda cub at Washington D.C.’s National Zoo.
Mei Xiang gave birth at 5:32 p.m on Friday. A panda’s labor can last up to 10 hours, but Mei Xiang gave birth after only two. She immediately picked up her cub and began to cradle it, according to the National Zoo.
The zoo had set up a public panda cam, where fans swarmed online to watch Mei Xiang in labor. Today on the cam, it looks the new mommy is taking a well earned rest.
Panda cubs are approximately the size of a stick of butter at birth. The zoo reported that Mei Xiang’s tiny cub appears healthy and is already emitting squeals.
This is good news, because the National Zoo welcomed a panda cub who tragically died of liver failure last September, according to the Washington Post.
The zoo will continue monitoring Mei Xiang and her new cub. We hope the new panda grows up to be just as healthy as its mama!