National Zoo welcomes giant panda cub

The Smithsonian National Zoo has a new resident with the birth of a giant panda cub on Friday. The zoo suspected mother Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) may be delivering a cub soon after it discovered that she may be pregnant during an ultrasound about a week ago.

The 22-year-old giant panda gave birth to her new bundle of joy at 6.35p.m. (2235GMT) on Friday, according to a statement from the zoo. Zoo staff heard the cub vocalize and glimpsed the cub for the first time briefly immediately after the birth. They said Mei Xiang is off to a good start and is nursing and cuddling her cub.