USA/FILE: National Zoo panda gives birth

Record ID: 863479

  • Title: USA/FILE: National Zoo panda gives birth
  • Date: 23rd August 2013
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) ZOO GOERS WAITING TO GO INSIDE THE PANDA EXHIBIT SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK SIGN THAT READS: "Shhhhhh! To provide the best chances for a successful pregnancy, our female panda Mei Xiang needs quiet." ZOO GOERS INSIDE THE PANDA EXHIBIT TAKING PICTURES MEI XIANG ON A MONITOR RESEARCHER LOOKING AT MEI XIANG ON A MONITOR MEI XIANG MOVING AROUND ON A MONITOR
  • Embargoed: 7th September 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVACZE1G125VU4O5CQHBXH9GXATF
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Washington D.C.'s National Zoo says panda Mei Xiang has given birth.

    The giant panda at the National Zoo has given birth to a cub. Zoo officials said Mei Xiang gave birth on Friday (August 23) at 1732edt (2132gmt). Minutes after the birth, the National Zoo tweeted the first picture of the butterstick-sized cub.
    This is Mei Xiang's third cub - her second, born last year died within a week. The other, Tai Shan, was born in 2005 and is now at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong.
    Veterinarians at the National Zoo artificially inseminated Mei Xiang after natural breeding failed to occur.
    Mei Xiang was put under general anesthesia and inseminated with a combination of fresh semen and frozen semen collected from the zoo's male giant panda, Tian Tian.
    Earlier in the month, the zoo had gone on a 24-hour pregnancy watch after Mei Xiang had begun to show signs of being pregnant.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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