This just in from the Panda News Desk at the National Zoo. Mei Xiang, the zoo’s 14-year-old female giant panda, was seen giving birth on the panda camera a little after 10:45 p.m. on Sunday night.
So far, mom and baby seem to be doing well. Zoo officials noted that they’ll keep their distance unless they get an indication something is wrong.
“This is still a very, very precarious situation,” said National Zoo Director Dennis Kelly. “This particular animal is very, very small, and we’re going to watch it very carefully.”
According to the Washington Post, Mei has had five consecutive false pregnancies since 2007, so the birth came as a surprise to them, as her chances of becoming pregnant had fallen to less than 10 percent.
