Panda Cub Gets First Veterinary Exam at National Zoo

A giant panda cub at Smithsonian’s National Zoo has received its first veterinary exam, two days before turning a month old.

On Saturday morning, September 19, the cub’s mother, Mei Xiang, left the den for a short while, placing her baby on the floor, which was seen by the zoo’s vets as the perfect opportunity to examine the cub.

The exam has pointed “to a healthy and strong cub,” the zoo said.

“During the exam, the cub let out quite a few grunts and squeals. One particularly loud squeal caught Mei Xiang’s attention. As she made her way towards the door, we ended the exam and placed the cub back in the den,” the zoo said. Credit: Smithsonian’s National Zoo via Storyful