Smithsonian’s National Zoo performed the first neonatal exam on the giant panda cub born Aug. 23, 2013

2013-08-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — This morning, the panda team at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo performed the first neonatal exam (8:56 a.m.) on the giant panda cub born Friday, Aug. 23. The cub is robust, fully formed and is a bright, healthy shade of pink. It is too early to determine the sex of the cub. It weighs 137 grams, which is about 4.8 ounces. The heart rate is steady, and vets were able to hear breathing sounds from both lungs. The cub is nursing and digesting successfully. It had a full belly at the time of the exam. Keepers and veterinarians report that the cub is healthy, active and vibrant. Zoo scientists will perform a paternity analysis on the cub in a few weeks

Please note no Zoo staff are available for media interviews until Monday.

# # #

Photo Credit: Courtney Janney, Smithsonian’s National Zoo
The giant panda cub born 5:32 p.m. August 23 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo received an exam from animal care staff at 8:56 a.m. August 35.
The cub weighs 137 grams (about 4.83 ounces).
Chief veterinarian Suzan Murray reports that the cub is robust, has a steady heartbeat, a full belly (is nursing well), and has successfully passed fecals.
Zoo officials do not yet know the cub’s sex. Animal care staff obtained a DNA sample. It will take approximately 2-3 weeks before the sex is known.