Our giant panda cub is growing like a weed, weighing 7.7 pounds. Her mother, Mei Xiang, now leaves her alone for more extended periods, as much as a couple of hours. The cub’s eyes are open and she can crawl. The latest update can be found here.
According to Chinese tradition giant panda cubs are named at 100 days old. Our cub was born on August 23, 2013 and will soon be named. The National Zoo is giving the public a chance to weigh in on her name. You can vote on your favorite name here. I voted for the name Bao Bao because it means precious, a treasure, just like she is. Go vote for your favorite name and then watch this adorable video of the highlights of our cub’s first months of life. Enjoy!