Picture of the little cubbie!
Posted on 08/02/2005 1:16:39 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
The National Zoo's giant panda cub still doesn't have a name, but at least caretakers now know its sex. Not that the zoo had a preference.
"We're excited to have a healthy panda cub," assistant curator Lisa Stevens said Tuesday. "It doesn't matter what its sex is - just it's good to know so we know whether to call it a 'he' or a 'she.'"
Make that "he."
Stevens said the panda's mother, 6-year-old Mei Xiang, doesn't care about the sex of her three-and-a-half-week-old cub either, only the tenth giant panda in the country.
Giant panda mothers dote on their cubs regardless of their gender. Mei Xiang cuddles her bundle of black-and-white fur almost 24 hours a day.
That makes it hard for the zoo's staff to get to the cub for examinations, Stevens said. She said the staff moved in for their first hands-on exam Tuesday when Mei Xiang left the den to snack on some bamboo.
Veterinarians quickly weighed the animal - it's under two pounds - and established that it was healthy. They also determined the cub's gender.
"It was just nice to have this sturdy, solid little cub in my hands," Stevens said.
Mei Xiang and her cub are not expected to be on exhibit for at least three months while they continue to bond.
I don't know what it is about pandas, but every time I see one, I wish I could take it home with me.
Women and minorities hardest hit!
Picture of the little cubbie!
Aw, isn't that sweet!
It's interesting that the cub is so small - 2 lbs. at over 3 weeks old. I suppose that's normal, or they would have commented on it. I have babies that weigh 9 lbs., and I'm a lot smaller than a mother giant panda!
Baby pandas are the size of a stick of butter when they're born.
And some other Panda Cubs...
Awwwww! So cute!!
I guess it makes for easy deliveries.
My kids and I are sitting here saying, "awwwwww....."
What a sweetie!
I know,
They are just precious...
(my inner child is screaming I WANT ONE!)
Thanks. He's sssssoooooo cute!
From what I understand, it's still hard on the mom.
I don't understand why pandas are designed to only give birth to one cub at a time and have them that small. Single birth neonates are usually much larger than multiple birth neonates, (marsupials excluded).
Very interesting, thanks. I'm glad the mom and the little cub are doing well.
Baby Giant Panda
Great set of photos of a panda cub growing up:
http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/exhibits/panda/panda.htm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.