A giant panda cub born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo was in perfect health on Sunday — one day after its sibling was stillborn, officials said.
The 4.8-ounce panda, born Friday afternoon, squealed as a zookeeper pried it from the mother, Mei Xiang, so staff members could check the cub’s vitals Sunday morning, officials said.
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Zoo workers were excited at the birth of the new giant panda cub as breeding the endangered species in captivity is difficult.
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“All the external features looked perfectly normal,” said zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson. “So the cub has been described as vibrant, healthy and active.
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The new cub’s mother kept her new cub away from staffers for two days, until a worker managed to pry the cub from her arms on Sunday. After a quick check-up, the cub was returned to the mother.
“My colleagues were very, very happy. This is joyful news.”
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The cub’s mother, Mei Xiang, was agitated after workers pried the cub from her paws. She stopped growling and pacing in her den after workers returned the cub, which she cradled once it returned to her arms.
The cub’s twin was stillborn Saturday night. The mother groomed the motionless cub for 17 minutes before dropping it to the floor, officials said.
The mother wouldn’t let staff members close to the living cub for two days, until panda keeper Marty Dearie managed to pull the tiny creature from her paws, officials said.
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Officials said the panda cub was in excellent health after veterinarians examined it on Sunday.
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The new cub had a steady heartbeat and veterinarians reported that it appeared to be digesting its food. The little panda, pink with white fur, also had a full stomach, officials said.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Mei Ziang lounges at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Oct. 2012.
During the quick check-up, the mother became agitated and began growling as she paced back and forth in her den. But the mother quickly calmed once workers reunited her with the cub, which she began to cradle once it was placed back in her arms.
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TAIPEI CITY ZOO/AFP/Getty Images
A panda cub at the Taipei City Zoo.
Workers were excited at the birth of the cub — whose gender won’t be known for another two or three weeks — because of how difficult it is to breed the endangered species in captivity.
Veterinarians will try again on Tuesday to examine the cub, whose eyes have yet to open.
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With News Wire Services
jkemp@nydailynews.com
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