Cubbie Update

"Since Lun Lun has been reliably leaving the cub to eat, I decided to try to weigh her on Saturday morning. The last time Lun Lun stepped on the scale for us was on October 30; at that time, she weighed 97.2 kg. Lun Lun usually weighs in around 100-106 kg, depending on how full her digestive tract is at the time of weighing. As we have mentioned previously, giant panda mothers will seclude themselves in a den and stop eating prior to giving birth and for a few days to three weeks after. So, a decrease in weight is typical and expected. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much weight Lun Lun has put on in just three weeks after giving birth. She is now up to 101 kg, which is within the range of her normal weight."

 

Zoo Alanta panda cubbie- it's a boy!

"Lun Lun and the cub got plenty of sleep last night, which is good because they had a big morning ahead of them. CBS’s Early Morning show taped a live cub exam this morning and announced the sex – it’s a boy!
While the vet staff tended to the cub during the exam, the keepers tended to Lun, making sure that she was stress-free and eating while the cub was away. I’m so excited to have watched the sex of the cub be announced, because it’s been such a hard secret to keep!"

"The cub continues to grow every day. When I returned from my weekend on Tuesday, I could not believe how big the cub had gotten in just two days! The dark areas of the cub’s body have gotten even darker and the fine white fur has gotten even fuzzier. The cub’s belly is rounder than ever! My favorite part of all mammal babies is their healthy, round, full bellies. Every time the cub is visible I look at its tummy and I know it is getting plenty of milk and care from Lun Lun, which is why it is growing so quickly. "