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In Photos: Giant Panda Mei Xiang Gives Birth

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Giant Pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian

Giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian in 2008.

(Image credit: Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian's National Zoo)

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.

(Image credit: Smithsonian National Zoo, screengrab)

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.

(Image credit: Smithsonian National Zoo, screengrab)

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.

(Image credit: Smithsonian National Zoo, screengrab)

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.

(Image credit: Smithsonian National Zoo, screengrab)

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

(Image credit: Courtney Janney, Smithsonian's National Zoo)

The cub received its first neonatal exam on the morning of Aug. 25.

Healthy Baby

(Image credit: Courtney Janney, Smithsonian's National Zoo)

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.

(Image credit: Smithsonian National Zoo)

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.

(Image credit: Smithsonian National Zoo)

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.

(Image credit: Smithsonian National Zoo)

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.

(Image credit: Smithsonian National Zoo)

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.

Jeanna Bryner
Managing editor, Scientific American

Jeanna Bryner is managing editor of Scientific American. Previously she was editor in chief of Live Science and, prior to that, an editor at Scholastic's Science World magazine. Bryner has an English degree from Salisbury University, a master's degree in biogeochemistry and environmental sciences from the University of Maryland and a graduate science journalism degree from New York University. She has worked as a biologist in Florida, where she monitored wetlands and did field surveys for endangered species, including the gorgeous Florida Scrub Jay. She also received an ocean sciences journalism fellowship from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She is a firm believer that science is for everyone and that just about everything can be viewed through the lens of science.