Giant Pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian in 2008.
Cutie Pie
The 15-year-old female panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a cub on Aug. 23, 2013, immediately cradling the little one.
Giving Birth
The Smithsonian National Zoo's female panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a cub on Aug. 23, 2013.
Mei Xiang
The Smithsonian National Zoo's female panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a cub on Aug. 23, 2013.
Watching a Panda Cam
Smithsonian National Zoo director Dennis Kelly with giant panda Mei Xiang and her cub on the panda cam in the David Rubenstein Panda House on Aug. 23, 2013.
First Checkup
The cub received its first neonatal exam on the morning of Aug. 25.
Healthy Baby
In its first exam, the cub weighed about 4.8 ounces (137 grams), and appeared healthy.
Giant Panda
Mei Xiang, female giant panda, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park.
First Cub
Mei Xiang isn't a first-time mom. At 3 weeks old, Mei Xiang's first cub takes a nap nestled in her arms. The cub, born on July 9, 2005, was the result of artificial insemination and now lives at the Panda Base in BiFengxia in Ya'an, China.
Panda Cub
Mei Xiang's 8-week-old cub gets measured during a checkup on Oct. 17, 2013, at the Smithsonian Zoo.
Getting Pudgy!
The panda cub, now 8 weeks old, weighs 5 pounds (2.6 kilograms) with her eyes partially open. Image taken during a zoo exam on Oct. 17, 2013.
