The newborn panda at Zoo Atlanta was given a clean bill of health Thursday.
“He looks great and is progressing well for this stage in his one month long life,” said Dr. Hayley Murphy, director of veterinary services for Zoo Atlanta.
The unnamed cub is the only giant panda to be born in the U.S. in 2010.
He weighed in Thursday at 2.2 pounds and is 13.7 inches long from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. He has a full coat of hair and continues to nurse with his 13-year old mother Lun Lun in their den.
“His mother is taking great care of him and has great maternal instincts,” said Murphy. “We checked his vital signs this morning and discovered that he’s in great shape, eating well and is an average size for a panda of his age.”
The veterinary team removes him once a week from Lun Lun for a check-up. Round-the-clock monitoring also occurs through a video surveillance at the zoo.
The newborn is the third offspring for Lun Lun and his 13-year-old father Yang Yang. All three births have been the products of artificial insemination.
Following a Chinese tradition, panda cubs are not named until they are 100 days old. The zoo plans to soon announce an event surrounding the naming of the panda.
The newborn will not be on display for the general public until Spring of 2011. Until then, panda fans can watch him online on Zoo Atlanta’s PandaCam.
What a soft and pampered life this little guy is going to have.
Makes me almost wish I was a baby panda.
Same Here Frank... I wanna a panda.... I love pandas soooo much!!! ♥♥♥♥♥
And this is news...why?
Because he's awdorable and for once there's something not cynical and terrible being reported.
This is news because there are over 6.5 billion freaking humans (over 1 billion Chinese alone) encroaching on the habitat/territory of the remaining estimated 1600 wild pandas. Every newborn Giant Panda pushes them back slightly from the brink of extinction.
This is newsworthy because the species is facing tremendous obstacles and the survival of a single animal is notable. If you're not interested in the story, why read it?
Forgive DH's ignorance, he/she obviously has no clue at all.
Why, would you rather read about Britney Spears or the Kardashians?
It's obvious you know absolutely nothing about the plight of the Giant Panda. If you read a bit about them and watch the panda cams at the various zoos in the U.S. (National Zoo; San Diego, and Atlanta) on a frequent basis you would become educated and maybe even learn something. You might even fall in love with these wonderful animals of God.
Hey DH your initials tell a lot about you. You are a DH !
UMMMMMM it's news because it's the Only giant panda born in the United States ever!! And it's adorable!
This is news because sometimes the world needs to hear uplifting things. There is enough news about murder and mayhem and wars and thieves to make up most of the headlines. It is refreshing to hear something good. The Apostle Paul said to think on things that are good. It is tough to do that when all you are bombarded with in the news is bad, heart rending stuff.
What a sweet face!
Yes! Something positive!
Name him Bubu
The photo made me smile. Forget all the snide remarks above...the birth (and survival) of an animal as rare as the Panda is something to cheer about.
well, i for one am thrilled, i was able to see pandas at the San Diego Zoo a few years ago with my family, they are one of my favorites, along with polar bears and brown bears...any bear really....such wonderfulnews! in this day of sad, desperate reporting, it's a joy to see one of God's newest little creatures!!
Mmmmm....panda express...
son of a panda!!
so cute..;0
Beautiful!
I wanna hear him sneeze!
Sneeze, Yes like on Youtube..I pull that up each time I need a good laugh, love the Kung Fu momma...
Finally! A good news story. I am sick and tired of reading about political BS and economic woes. He's sooooo adorable and will surely have a great life.
Awwwwwww!!!!!!!
OMFG I WANT NAO
I would love to kiss him on the nose!