Panda cub born at Washington zoo

The cub was born at the National Zoo to a giant panda lent to the United States by China.

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Agence France-Presse

Mon, Sep 17 2012 at 7:29 AM

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A newborn giant panda cub born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in 2008. Zoo officials said they believed there was only one cub, but they would know for sure later in the day if the cub was to have a twin. (Photo: Liu Jin/Getty Images

A giant panda lent to the United States by China and living at the National Zoo in the U.S. capital has given birth to a cub, zoo officials said Monday.

The birth occurred at about 10:46 p.m. local time Sunday, according to the zoo's chief veterinarian, Suzan Murray.

Mei Xiang, as the mom panda is called, "is cradling her cub closely, and she looks so tired," Murray said in a statement.

"But every time she tries to lay down, the cub squawks, and she sits right up and cradles the cub more closely," Murray added. "She is the poster child for a perfect panda mom."

Zoo officials said they believed there was only one cub, but they would know for sure later in the day if the cub was to have a twin.

They said their goal was for Mei Xiang to raise this cub naturally.

In the meantime, the cub and its mom are being monitored by webcam.