Giant Panda Cub Born at the San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun and week-old panda cub at the San Diego Zoo
Two-week-old cub showing its distinctive markings
The newest giant panda at the San Diego Zoo, a two-week-old cub, has begun to develop its distinctive black-and-white coloring. Bai Yun gave birth to the cub at 4:58 a.m. Aug. 5. The giant panda team witnessed the birth, a fifth for Bai Yun, on a closed-circuit camera in the birthing den. At the time, the tiny newborn was about the size of a stick of butter with pinkish skin.
When Bai Yun left the den for a few moments Wednesday, Zoo panda team staff members saw a hint of the panda’s iconic black-and-white colors under its white, downy fur. The initial black-and-white coloring is a change in skin pigmentation that will eventually develop into the panda’s black-and-white fur pattern. The Zoo panda team reports the cub is thriving and has at least doubled in size.
The next milestone in the cub’s life will be its first examination. The Zoo’s panda team expects to be able to do the cub’s exam within a week or two. The team doesn’t want to interfere with Bai Yun’s care taking, so are waiting until her trips from the den are longer. Right now, she’s leaving for only a few minutes each time for water and a quick snack of bamboo. During the exam, the team will measure and weigh the cub for the first time and do a quick check to try to determine the sex. The length of the exam is dependent on Bai Yun’s comfort level. If she appears anxious during the separation, the cub is returned immediately.
People can view the panda cub’s development through the San Diego Zoo’s live Panda Cam, available at www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam
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