A 20-year-old giant panda has given birth at the San Diego Zoo, setting a record as it's the sixth cub born at the zoo to Bai Yun, the most at a breeding facility outside of China.
The mother is probably the second-oldest known panda ever to successfully deliver. With the help high-tech imaging, the zoo was able to monitor the pregnancy every step of the way, according to the LA Times. In a blog post, zoo officials say Bai Yun immediately scooped the cub into her arms and comforted the newborn.
Because of Bai Yun's advanced age the pregnancy was considered high risk, but zookeepers say mother and baby are doing fine. The sex of the 4-ounce cub won't be known for several months.
It will be a while before Bai Yun and the new cub are on display but the public can glimpse them on the Panda Cam at the zoo's website.
Under a panda-loan agreement with the Chinese government, four other cubs born to Bai Yun have been sent to a panda research facility in China: Hua Mei, Mei Sheng, Su Lin and Zhen Zhen, the report said.
Five of Bai Yun's six cubs were the product of mating with Gao Gao. Bai Yun's first cub, Hua Mei, born in 1999, was the product of artificial insemination: Her first intended mate, Shi Shi, proved uninterested in mating. Shi Shi was replaced in 2003 by the more lusty Gao Gao.
