San Diego Panda Cub: Exam 6
Today San Diego Zoo’s little panda boy had his sixth exam.
Here is the report by keeper Elizabeth Simmons:
This was especially exciting for me, as it was MY first panda cub exam. Our chubby cubbie weighed in at 5.8 pounds (2.64 kilograms)—almost a pound more than last week. It is amazing how quickly this little guy is growing!
Our little buddy was a teeny bit fussy at the beginning of the exam, but a few chin scratches later he was sleeping like a baby. Baby panda boy received his first vaccination today as well. He was a super star and didn’t make a sound during the injection. What a brave little man he is!
Holding the cub for the first time was a truly amazing experience for me- he is so fluffy and strong! Although he may look helpless and fragile in the den, let me assure you that this baby panda is a little tank. Mom and baby are bonding more and more every day. Mom Bai Yun plays with her little baby, spinning him around and carrying him out to her bedroom on a regular basis now. Although this play can look rough at times, this is perfectly normal for a panda mom and baby. Our little guy is strong, and Bai Yun is an experienced mother who has successfully raised five cubs already. Soon enough our little guy will be up and running around. In fact, we have seen him practicing his crawling skills recently!
I can’t wait to see our little star out on exhibit this winter.
Source: San Diego Zoo
