News Archive

As of December 7, Bei Bei weighed about 16 pounds (7.32 kg). Even though he's grown exponentially over the last few months, he still won't be eating bamboo for a while. However, he has started to mouth it, which is typical of a cub his age. Bei Bei's teeth are continuing to come in, but we're not...

During a routine exam on Monday November 30, Bei Bei weighed 15 pounds (6.89 kg)! He's getting more difficult to weigh now that he is trying to climb out of the weighing tub! In stark comparison, his older sister Bao Bao weighs almost 150 pounds (68 kg). At his exam on November 19, we saw that Bei...

Bei Bei is a healthy 12.5 pound boy and he's on the move. Although he took his first steps, the rock work provided more traction than the slippery floor, so it will take him a little longer to figure out how to walk on this surface. The other cubs were able to eventually figure it out though so we...

This morning, Bei Bei weighed 5.35 kilograms, or 11.79 pounds. His ear canals are open, and keepers have noticed that he is starting to respond to noise. Mei Xiang has been bringing Bei Bei out of the den to the indoor enclosure regularly and leaving him while she eats or goes outside. Under her...

When last weighed on Friday October 30, Bei Bei was 9.5 pounds! Since he is growing so rapidly, we know for certain that he is getting enough to eat. However, Bei Bei still occasionally fusses after he nurses. It is possible that Mei Xiang, like many mammal mothers, occasionally ends the nursing...

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...

Look at those toes! Our favorite panda cam shot from our #PandaStory Flickr album this week was from user partipersian. Look at those toes! Our favorite panda cam shot from our #PandaStory Flickr album this week was from user partipersian. A photo posted by Smithsonian's National Zoo (...

Yesterday, before Bei Bei's full veterinary exam our chief veterinarian Dr. Don Neiffer settled the little panda cub by massaging two pressure points at the base of his skull. And Bei Bei really seemed to enjoy it. He closed his eyes, rested his chin on Dr. Neiffer's hand and relaxed. #PandaStory ​...

Keepers had a chance to weigh Bei Bei on Thursday, October 1, when Mei Xiang left her den to eat. He now weighs about 5 lbs. This is an increase of a pound since he was weighed last week! Vets also did a thorough checkup and took some body measurements. Bei Bei's head to the tip of his tail measures...

The classic nose to nose nuzzle! Thanks to Janet Crouse for sharing. Post fav cam screenshots of#BeiBei˜and Mei Xiang to our#PandaStory˜Flickr group. We'll share a great one each week! Keepers had a chance to weigh Bei Bei on Oct. 1. He now weighs 4.5 lbs. (2070g)?half a pound increase since he was...

Q: What do we call a giant panda cub sneeze? A: Bei Bei choo! #PandaStory #BeiBei @michelleobama @smithsonian ​ Q: What do we call a giant panda cub sneeze? A: Bei Bei choo! #PandaStory #BeiBei @michelleobama @smithsonian A video posted by Smithsonian's National Zoo (@smithsonianzoo) on Sep 29, 2015...

This morning, our giant panda cub received his name: Bei Bei or 贝贝 (BAY-BAY)! Bei Bei means "precious, treasure" in Mandarin Chinese and is complementary to his sister's name, Bao Bao. In celebration of the state visit and as a special honor for the cub, the name was selected by First Lady of the...

When Mei Xiang left her den to eat on Sept. 21, keepers took the opportunity to get the latest weight on our not-so-little-anymore giant panda cub. At 4.5 weeks old, the cub weighs 2.95 pounds (1,139 grams). He has now surpassed both of his older siblings in size when they were the same age: Bao Bao...

Our panda cub scrapbook is growing as quickly as he is—and that's saying something. This is one of our favorite adorable moments from the panda cams this week. This snapshot was added to the #PandaStory Flickr group by user gkoo19681. Our panda cub scrapbook is growing as quickly as he is?and that's...

David M. Rubenstein has pledged a second $4.5 million gift to support our giant panda conservation and research program through the end of 2020. As a result, our scientists will be able to continue all the research they do related to giant pandas and the other species that share their habitat....

Our cub is starting to look like a little giant panda! His black markings have come in, and his back saddle looks just like his dad's, Tian Tian. Keepers have also seen him sleeping with his paw over his eye—which is something both Tian Tian and his big sister Bao Bao do—even though his eyes won't...

Obsessed with the panda cams? Put your totally healthy fascination to good use and help write the newest chapter of our #PandaStory. Thanks to the panda cams sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund, we're able to share a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of a panda cub's life in the den with...

Mei Xiang left her den Saturday afternoon to eat and drink. She ate more bamboo than during her previous excursions away from the den, which is normal. Keepers expect Mei Xiang to gradually spend more time away from the den eating and drinking as the cub grows. While Mei Xiang was eating...

Mei Xiang left her den for a few minutes Wednesday afternoon giving our veterinarians an opportunity to do a quick cub health check to ensure that he is growing and healthy. They listened to his heart and lungs, palpated his abdomen and checked that he was able to move his forelimbs and hindlimbs...

Mei Xiang decided to eat some sugarcane and drink dilute apple juice the keepers left for her yesterday evening around 6 p.m. Two hours later, she left the den to urinate and defecate—only the second time she's done that since giving birth. She put the cub down when she left the den and he was very...

Our panda cub has been visible on the panda cams several times since yesterday. Keepers left some sugarcane for Mei Xiang in her den yesterday afternoon, and around 1 p.m. she decided to eat some! That is the first time she has eaten since giving birth. She put her cub down for a few minutes while...

Mei Xiang and her cub did well overnight! The cub is nursing, and Mei is taking excellent care of him. She did not leave the den last night, but keepers are offering her water and juice to keep her hydrated. She has not shown any interest in eating yet, but that is normal for a new panda mom.