Washington received some happy news Saturday: Giant Panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a cub at 5:35 p.m.
The gender of the cub will not be determined until a later date, and the new cub is currently unnamed.
The mother quickly accepted the new cub by picking it up.
“All of us are thrilled that Mei Xiang has given birth. The cub is vulnerable at this tiny size but we know Mei is an excellent mother,” said director Dennis Kelly of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. “Thank you to all of our excellent keepers, veterinarians, researchers and Chinese colleagues who contributed and therefore deserve credit for this conservation success.”
