National Zoo: 2-Week-Old Panda Cub Is Female

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Smithsonian's National Zoo says its 2-week-old giant panda cub is female.

The Washington zoo also revealed Thursday that the cub's father is National Zoo panda Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN).

Panda mother Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) was artificially inseminated with sperm from Tian Tian, as well as a panda named Gao Gao at the San Diego Zoo. It takes time to determine a cub's gender, and a DNA sample was collected to determine the cub's paternity.

The surviving panda cub has been described as healthy and active. Zookeepers conducted a 10-minute physical examination days after it was born. Veterinarians said the cub had a steady heartbeat and appeared to be digesting its food.

Officials are also expected to release more details about a second stillborn cub.

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