National Zoo's Panda cub's first full Veterinary exam
The giant panda cub born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on August 23 received her first veterinary exam on September 17 and was given a clean bill of health. Mei Xiang, who has spent much of the past three and a half weeks cradling her cub, put her down and left her den at 4:11 p.m. The panda team, which has been preparing for an opportunity to perform a full veterinary exam, seized the opportunity and retrieved the cub from the den while Mei Xiang ate bamboo and drank some water in the adjacent enclosure. The exam was completed by 4:31 p.m.
“It’s amazing to see how much she has grown in less than one month,” said Brandie Smith, senior curator of mammals and giant pandas. “Mei Xiang continues to be a great mom, as she was with Tai Shan, and it shows.”
Since her preliminary health check Aug. 25 the cub has more than doubled her weight. She now weighs slightly less than two pounds and has the signature black markings of a giant panda. Veterinarians also listened to her heart and lungs. Her heart rate was 130 beats per minute, and her respiratory rate was 42. From nose to tail she is 10.6 inches long and 9.8 inches wide around her belly. Her eyes have not opened yet.
After the exam was completed Mei Xiang returned to her den and immediately picked up her cub and began grooming her.
The cub became 4 weeks old on September 20 – and what a difference a few weeks makes! Keepers say that it looks like she has eye markings shaped like Mei Xiang’s and her back saddle is shaped like Tian Tian’s. And she is growing exponentially. One of the keepers at her veterinary exam on Monday exclaimed that she is nearly as round as she is long!
Mei’s appetite has come roaring back this week as well. Keeper, Nicole, said this morning “there are no bamboo leaves that are safe” in Mei’s enclosure. Mei left the cub for about 20 minutes this morning to eat. Since Monday she has started leaving the cub more frequently and for longer periods of time. The panda team plans to perform another veterinary exam on the cub next week, if they get the opportunity.
The cub’s eyes will probably not open for a few more weeks. Panda cubs’ eyes usually start to open when they are between 40 and 60 days old. She’ll also become more mobile soon. She can only partially roll over right now, meaning that if she turns herself on her back she needs Mei’s help to get back on her belly. But, keepers expect that to change soon enough, and when it does she’ll be able to turn herself over completely without any help.
Tian Tian is also doing well. Since the summer temperatures have faded he has been staying outside at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat until 2 p.m. most afternoons.
Source: National Zoo
