National Zoo's Giant Panda Gives Birth

Mei Xiang is a mom again
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 22, 2015 2:54 PM CDT
Updated Aug 22, 2015 5:17 PM CDT
National Zoo's Giant Panda in Labor
The National Zoo's Giant Panda Mei Xiang, in a file photo.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Great news out of the National Zoo in Washington this afternoon: The giant panda Mei Xiang gave birth at 5:34pm, the zoo announced via tweet. No word yet on the gender. The Washington Post notes that Mei Xiang has given birth to four other cubs since 2005, two of whom died. But a zoo spokesperson says the cub's loud vocalizations were a "great sign for good health."

Prior to today, Mei Xiang's most recent successful birth was that of Bao Bao in 2013. Assuming all is well, this would be the first time the zoo would have two cubs at the same time, notes NBC Washington. Yes, there's a panda cam, but heavy volume today will make getting in tricky. Read about the insanely tricky process of breeding pandas here. (More National Zoo stories.)

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