Video credit: Smithsonian's National Zoo Aug. 29, 2013--In the early morning hours (3:37 a.m.), Mei Xiang gently placed her cub on the floor of her den. The tiny cub has a round belly, which indicates that it is nursing well. The cub also has a great set of lungs! There is a lot of squawking until Mei carefully picks her cub up and cradles it. Mei is very aware of the keepers when they enter her den space to offer her food. Today, Mei drank 56 oz. of apple juice diluted with water, which is a good sign that she is doing well. Keepers and veterinarians continue to monitor Mei Xiang and her cub visually and auditorily. They will will allow Mei Xiang's behaviors direct how they access the cub. All visual indications tell animal care staff that both bears are thriving. We invite fans to keep watching Mei and her cub on the Panda Cam, sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund. Due to the volume of viewers, the viewing period has been set to 15 minutes. To watch for a longer amount of time, simply refresh the panda cam or you can watch for an unlimited amount of time on the Zoo's App: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/smithsoniannationalzooapp/. Keep watching! # # #
