Bei Bei is Getting Feisty

On October 8, vets performed an exam on Bei Bei. He weighed in at 5.9 pounds. His eyes are now fully open and he is getting more active and rambunctious. He also received his first vaccination. Before the full veterinary exam, our chief veterinarian Don Neiffer settled the panda cub by massaging two pressure points at the base of his skull. Check out the video of Bei Bei! On October 12, keepers obtained an updated weight on Bei Bei. He is now 6.38 pounds! 

Mei Xiang has begun spending time outside during the day. She is eager to go out first thing in the morning to eat and usually returns inside after 20-30 minutes. Some days she also goes outside for 20-30 minutes in the afternoon. Mei Xiang will gradually increase the time she spends outside over the next few weeks and months. She has even recently started bringing Bei Bei out of the den and into her larger indoor enclosurefor brief outings. When Mei Xiang brings Bei Bei outside the den, the door to her outdoor exhibit remains closed to prevent her from bringing him outside before he is fully vaccinated.

The David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat has been closed to the public since Aug. 20, and will remain closed until further notice to provide quiet. Bei Bei will go on exhibit for the first time in early 2016. Until then, you can see him on the panda cam, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund. If you'd like to watch the cam uninterrupted, we suggest downloading our app. 

Don't forget to follow @smithsonianzoo on Instagram for more photos and videos with the hashtag #PandaStory!