September 26, 2013 | by Staff Writer

Panda Cub Passes the Physical (photos and video)

From the Smithsonian National Zoo Panda Cub Updates:

SEPTEMBER 26
The panda team was able to perform another full veterinary exam on the cub today. Mei Xiang is routinely coming out of her den in the mornings to eat bamboo and drink. This morning when she left her den, the panda team closed the door that connects the den to her adjacent enclosure and retrieved the cub.

The exam went very well and the cub has grown substantially since last week. She now weighs 3.07 lbs. (1.395 kg), and she’s 11.4 inches (29 cm) around her belly. At her last exam, Sept. 16 she weighed in at just under 2lbs. and was 9.8 inches (25 cm) wide around her belly. Now she is over 14 inches (36 cm) long. And each of her paws is 1.5 inches (4 cm) long. Veterinarians listened to her heart and lungs, which sound healthy.

The cub is very active and keepers said she is very wiggly and squirmy. She’s trying to support her own weight. Her eyes have not opened yet, and won’t for a few more weeks. After the exam was completed, the panda team returned the cub to the den. When Mei Xiang came back to the den she immediately picked the cub up and started grooming her.

Smithsonian National Zoo Photos shared on Flickr