National zoo sees birth of new baby panda

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The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. saw the birth of a new baby panda late Sunday evening.

The zoo’s female panda, Mei Xiang, gave birth to the cub at 10:46 p.m. on Sunday, while curator Becky Malinsky was watching the zoo’s 24-hour panda feed. NBC Washington reported that Mei underwent artificial insemination with frozen sperm from the zoo’s male panda, Tian Tian, twice in April.

This is welcome news for panda fans in D.C. after they witnessed Mei go through five pseudopregnancies in the last few years. Mei last gave birth to Tai Shan in 2005. Tai has since been placed in China at a panda reserve, where they hope he can aid in propagating the species.

The Zoo broadcasts a live “panda cam” of Mei Xiang and the new cub.

Watch the raw video, posted by the Associated Press on Sept. 17.

Watch the interview with the Smithsonian National Zoo curator, posted by the Associated Press on Sept. 17.