Panda Plays Peak-a-Boo During Checkup

Panda cub plays peak-a-boo. CREDIT: Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo Safari Park View full size image

The San Diego Zoo's panda cub is starting to open his eyes, to adorable effect.

During an exam on Wednesday morning, animal care staff could see the cub's eyes beginning to open, the zoo said in a release. The development is right on track for the 45-day old male cub. It will take about another 20 days for the eyes to be fully open.
 
The cub now weighs 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms) and measures a bit more than 16 inches (41.5 centimeters) long. Animal care staff are pleased with his growth and his weight gain; his abdominal and chest girth -- 11.8 inches and 12 inches, respectively -- show that he is nursing well from his mother, Bai Yun, the zoo said.
 
The San Diego Zoo follows the Chinese cultural tradition of naming the giant panda after it is 100 days old. Starting Sept. 17, the zoo will begin taking name suggestions for the male cub on its website, http://www.sandiegozooglobal.org.

The names must be submitted in Chinese pinyin, which is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into Latin script, and significance of the name must be included to be considered. The zoo will take submissions until Sept. 24.
 
Panda fans can watch Mom and cub in the den at www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam to help them get ideas for the cub's name.

This story was provided by OurAmazingPlanet, a sister site to LiveScience.