Watch Adorable 5-Week-Old Panda Cub Crawl to Its Mother in National Zoo Video | U.S. By becoming a member, you'll help the Zoo save species and get great benefits for you and your family each time you visit! This coincides with when pandas den and produce cubs, like other bear species. However, pandas "experience a phenomenon referred to as delayed implantation," the zoo said in a statement. Viewers can stream them 24/7 here on the zoo… Keepers say it is strong, healthy and growing nicely into the signature panda 'plump.' 🐼 🐾 Cub on the move! Further complicating matters is Mei Xiang's age. The baby's birth marked the first time a zoo in the U.S. had experienced a successful pregnancy and birth via artificial insemination using only frozen semen. Like other bears, pandas seem to go through a metabolic shift during the summer months, when their food intake drops up to 75%. Their focus during this time is nurturing and protecting their cubs, rather than eating. Mei Xiang's cub says goodbye: Why Bei Bei leaving the National Zoo hit so hard for so many. Check the Panda Cub FAQs, and sign up for the Giant Panda Bulletin to get the latest panda cub news straight to your inbox. See why nearly a quarter of a million subscribers begin their day with the Starting 5. The panda team regularly measures the baby panda. That means an embryo may not attach to the panda's uterine wall for weeks or months, and once it does, it grows exponentially, the zoo says. Mei Xiang has given birth to three cubs that have survived beyond a few days: Tai Shan, Bao Bao and Bei Bei, all of which are now in China. To continue reading login or create an account. When Mei Xiang gave birth in the past, she exhibited similar behaviors. In March, Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated with sperm from Tian Tian. Yes. 👀🎥 TUNE IN: https://t.co/99lBTV2w92. However, we wanted to give her one more opportunity to contribute to her species' survival. "Signs of a healthy cub are vigorous calling (panda cubs are rather noisy), observed nursing, appropriate urination/defecation, meeting of established milestones (eyes opening, becoming ambulatory), and most importantly, steady weight gain," he added. She always has access to her larger enclosures, though for the first few months of a cub's life she will spend the vast majority of her time in the den. According to the National Zoo, first lady Patricia Nixon told Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai she liked the animals, to which he responded, "I'll give you some.". At 22, she would be the oldest giant panda to successfully give birth in the United States. Amaral said restlessness is often observed as well as general straining from the animal. The buzz sound you hear is electrical interference noise from the camera's microphone. Toggle between Panda Cam 1 and Panda Cam 2 using the tabs at the top of the video player for the full Panda Cam experience. Mei Xiang does have access to an outside portion of the panda exhibit, but she's mostly stayed inside in recent days as she sleeps and nest builds, the zoo says. She is restless, having contractions, body licking and remains in her den.". ET on August 21, and was said to be attentively caring for her newborn. A miscarriage or stillbirth is still possible, though. "Because Mei Xiang is of advanced maternal age, we knew the chances of her having a cub were slim. They stay in these dens for about the cub's first 100 days. Why Bei Bei leaving the National Zoo hit so hard for so many, Giant panda could give birth this week at Washington’s National Zoo, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Enjoy exclusive animal content, photos, event information and more, right to your inbox!Sign Up! When the cub is around one year old, the majority of its diet will be made up of bamboo and other solid foods, but it still may nurse for comfort up to the age of 18 months. When the baby bear was born, Steve Monfort, John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, said in a statement: "Giant pandas are an international symbol of endangered wildlife and hope, and with the birth of this precious cub we are thrilled to offer the world a much-needed moment of pure joy. Animal care staff continues to provide Mei Xiang with fresh food and water daily, but during this time she will eat and drink less often, mostly choosing to focus on the cub. You have 4 free articles remaining this month, Sign-up to our daily newsletter for more articles like this + access to 5 extra articles. The zoo announced the pregnancy on Friday after veterinarians performed an ultrasound and confirmed fetal tissue. After the cub is born, expect Mei Xiang to care for it attentively, as she's done for her past cubs, Amaral said. I am incredibly proud of our animal care and science teams, whose expertise in giant panda behavior was critical to this conservation success.".