Mei Xiang, a giant panda at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, gave birth to a cub on Friday and quickly began to cradle it.
At 22 years old, Mei Xiang is the oldest giant panda to ever successfully give birth in the United States. The oldest in the world to give birth successfully did so at 23.
? A precious giant panda cub has arrived! We’re overjoyed to share that Mei Xiang gave birth at 6:35 p.m. and is caring for her newborn attentively. Positive mothering behaviors include nursing her cub and cuddling it close. ?? TUNE IN: https://t.co/99lBTV2w92. #PandaStory pic.twitter.com/x02fEYfAmx
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) August 21, 2020
“We are thrilled to offer the world a much-needed moment of pure joy,” said Steve Monfort, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. “Because Mei Xiang is of advanced maternal age, we knew the chances of her having a cub were slim. However, we wanted to give her one more opportunity to contribute to her species’ survival.”
Giant pandas are considered a “vulnerable” species. Estimates indicate that fewer than 2,000 exist in the wild. Only a few zoos in the U.S. have giant pandas.
Mei Xiang gave birth at 6:35 p.m., and the newborn could quickly be heard testing out its vocal cords.
Mei Xiang was given to the National Zoo by China under an agreement that her offspring would be sent to China a few years after they were born. The giant panda has given birth successfully three other times. Her child, Bei Bei, was sent to China in November.
The sex of the cub has not yet been confirmed and will be announced at a later date.
When the zoo confirmed the pregnancy earlier this week, zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson said, “We need this! We totally need this joy,” adding, “we are all in desperate need of these feel-goods.”
Panda lovers can watch the zoo’s panda cam here.
