National Zoo
@NationalZoo
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The Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute is a leader in animal care, science, education, & sustainability.
Washington, DC
Joined October 2008
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❄️🐼 Slides, somersaults and pure panda joy. Happy snow day from giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian! 🌨🐾
. . .
#SnowDay
#PandaStory
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Tian Tian woke up this morning to a lot of snow, and he was pretty excited about it. 🐼🌨
#blizzard2016
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❤️🦍 We're thrilled to share western lowland gorilla Calaya gave birth to a male at 6:25 p.m. 4/15. His name, Moke, means “junior” or “little one” in the Lingala language. Keepers report that Calaya has been caring for her infant & are optimistic he will thrive.
#GorillaStory
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🐼 A precious giant panda cub has arrived! We’re overjoyed to share that Mei Xiang gave birth at 6:35 p.m. and is caring for her newborn attentively. Positive mothering behaviors include nursing her cub and cuddling it close. 👀🎥 TUNE IN: .
#PandaStory
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🐼
#BeiBei
is working on his dismounts out of the trees! Pandas are adept climbers & will climb & fall during play sessions
#PandaStory
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#TianTian
is still rolling in the snow, but we're still clearing it for visitors! The Zoo will be closed Jan. 26.
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Yes,
#NationalPandaDay
is real...and it's today! So Happy National Panda Day, Twitterverse! 🐼❤️
#panda
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Today was Bao Bao's first time playing in the snow! And she totally rocked it.
http://t.co/gT3dDa92fh
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❄️🐼 New year, new Xiao Qi Ji! In 2021, our giant panda cub was a little wary during his first encounter with snow. This morning, the 16 m.o. plowed face-first into the fresh powder, rolled around and relished 2022's first
#SnowDay
. His belly-sliding skills are 10/10!
#PandaStory
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❤️🐼 Whether he was somersaulting down a snow-covered hill, splashing in a tub filled with suds or snacking on bamboo shoots, giant panda Tian Tian captured the hearts of millions with his chill and goofy personality. We wish him safe travels to China.
#PandaStory
@smithsonian
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❄️🐼 Giant panda Tian Tian had a ball in the snow today. Literally. 🐾⚫
. . .
#NatZooZen
#SnowDay
#PandaStory
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🦥🎉 S l o w 👏 c l a p 👏 for our southern two-toed sloth, Athena, who turns 5 years old today! Even on her special day, Athena never skips her beauty rest. (Sloths typically sleep ~15 hours a day.) Celebrate by visiting her at the Small Mammal House! 📅 .
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🦆💨🌊 Duck, duck, GO! In this video, common merganser Fabio speed-paddles across the flamingo pond at 6 miles per hour to Bird House keeper Heather Anderson. She is feeding our flock Fabio's favorite food: mealworms! 🐛🐟 They also receive smelt and sea duck pellets.
#NatZooZen
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We can confirm a second cub was born at 10:07. It appears healthy.
#PandaStory
http://t.co/MH0kmQ32kk
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🐼❤️❄️
#MeiXiang
’s on a roll! She had fun playing in the snow this morning. Read more about our animals in the snow
#PandaStory
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🐼❤️ Big news! Early this morning, our Panda Team observed giant panda Mei Xiang leave the den twice to get a drink of water at 4:27 a.m. and 5:59 a.m. Her brief reprieve offered Panda Cam viewers a look at the growing cub! READ THE UPDATE: .
#PandaStory
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❄️ As snow blanketed Washington, D.C., our animals woke up to a winter wonderland. With this weather event came another significant milestone—giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s first encounter with snow! Keepers say he took a little nip at the fresh powder. 🐾👅
#SnowDay
#PandaStory
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🐼 We hope your
#Christmas
is as merry as a giant panda in the snow rolling in a winter wonderland!
#PandaStory
Reminder: the Zoo and ZooLights are closed Dec. 25!
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🎥🐼 Last Friday, Sept. 25, our giant panda cub had a brief exam. Keepers say it is strong, healthy and growing nicely into the signature panda 'plump.' ❤️
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji have landed in Chengdu! After a safe flight, they are on the way to their new home. Our team will stay for a few days as the pandas get settled. Thank you to
@FedEx
for transporting our Very Important Pandas in style! 🐼 🐼 🐼 🛬
#PandaStory
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#BaoBao
made herself comfortable in the snow today and munched on some sugarcane.
#Blizzard2016
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Look who's stepping outside!
#BeiBei
ventured into the yard with Mei Xiang for the first time today🐼
#WeSaveSpecies
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🐼 🐾 Cub on the move! Our giant panda team caught a glimpse of our 5-week-old cub crawling under the watchful eye of mother Mei Xiang. Watch them on the Giant Panda Cam! 👀🎥 TUNE IN: .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼❤️ It’s official—our giant panda cub is as round as he is long, received his first vaccine and is 100% adorable. ✏️STORY: .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼❤️ Our giant panda cub may be turning 11 weeks old tomorrow, but he’s getting cuter by the day. Learn the latest stats on our plump panda cub from assistant curator Laurie Thompson. ✏️STORY: .
. . .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼🍠 Our sweet panda cub had his first taste of sweet potato. Spoiler alert: he gobbled it up. ✏️KEEPER UPDATE: .
. . .
📧❤️ Get pandas in your inbox! Sign up for the Giant Panda Bulletin: .
. . .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🦍 Gorillas Calaya & Moke are bonding in the Great Ape House. Mom is providing excellent care, nursing & cradling Moke closely. Baraka, Mandara & Kibibi are very interested in Moke!
#GorillaStory
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🐼❤️ Three cheers for giant panda Mei Xiang! She graced us with a glimpse of her wonderful, wiggly cub. It was born 6:35 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. Watch along with us via the Panda Cam! 👀🎥 TUNE IN: .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼 Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji continues to explore & take on new challenges—like climbing up rockwork in the indoor habitat he shares with mom Mei Xiang. He’s getting stronger, more coordinated & 💯 still an adorable little nugget. 😍
#PandaStory
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We welcomed a gray seal pup Jan. 21. The pup appears to be nursing, moving & bonding well w/ mom.
#Squee
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Roll into this snow day like a 🐼!
#MeiXiang
and
#BeiBei
spent their morning playing in the snow.
#PandaStory
Have as much fun as a panda in the snow with us on Saturday at the giant panda housewarming party, sponsored by
@airbnb
. More:
#WeSaveSpecies
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❄️🐼ICYMI: Yesterday, our giant pandas took to the slopes for some snow day fun—and the moment was magical. ✨
. . .
👀🎥 Watch Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji on the Giant Panda Cam: .
. . .
#PandaStory
#SnowDay
#Panda
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Female bobcat Ollie found on Zoo property. Facebook Live broadcast @ 5pm press con
@FONZNationalZoo
@smithsonian
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Keepers gave our elephants the choice to romp in the snow for a little bit today, and Kamala took it!
#Blizzard2016
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🐼👀 Last night, giant panda Mei Xiang gave us another peek at her precious cub! If you look closely, you can see its iconic black eye markings starting to appear. ✏️READ THE UPDATE:.
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼🎂🎉Bei Bei celebrated his 2nd birthday today with a panda-friendly frozen cake!
#PandaStory
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❤️🐼 Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji turned 6 months old, tried a new homemade treat and found a new favorite hangout spot. Get the scoop on our little cub’s big week! ✏️STORY: .
. . .
📧 Get pandas in your inbox: .
. . .
#PandaStory
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Giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji being safely unloaded in their specialized travel crates from the
@FedEx
Panda Express after landing in Chengdu. Thanks to our vet who got this special look.
#PandaStory
@smithsonian
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🥳🐼🎂 Happy 23rd birthday, Mei Xiang! She and her son, Xiao Qi Ji, celebrated with a magnificent giant panda-friendly cake, thanks to our nutrition team. The tiers are made of diluted pineapple juice and garnished with pineapples, kiwis, apples, pears, pumpkin + fiber biscuits.
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#BeiBei
climbed up a tree this morning! And mamma bear Mei Xiang helped him climb back down
#WeSaveSpecies
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🐼❤️ Our giant panda cub’s got attitude! Now that his ears and eyes are fully open, he’s reacting to the sights and sounds that surround him with curiosity and some (adorable) feistiness. ✏️ STORY: .
. . .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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Panda cub born at 5:34pm live on panda cam. Video and pix to come.
#PandaStory
#WeSaveSpecies
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❤️🐼 Keepers report that giant panda Mei Xiang and her newborn had a successful first night. Between bouts of good rest, Mei Xiang appeared to nurse her cub and was very attentive to its vocalizations. 👀🎥 TUNE IN: .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji and
@capitals
? 🐼 Slapshot 🏒 straight to the heart. ❤️ Sending love to D.C. and our hometown team as they start their season tonight. Go Caps!
#ALLCAPS
#PandaStory
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Millions have connected with Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cubs by visiting us in Washington, D.C., and watching our Giant Panda Cam. Although this farewell is bittersweet, we must celebrate these pandas and their impact on our understanding, care and conservation.
#PandaStory
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🐼❤️ Our panda team is happy with the behaviors they observe of Mei Xiang and her cub. As expected, Mei Xiang is being an excellent and attentive mother! ✏️UPDATE: . Thank you for your well wishes + support!
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼❤️ Our giant panda cub has reached a big milestone—today marks 1 month since its birth Aug. 21. Over the weekend, Mei Xiang left the den, and an opportunity arose to conduct the cub's first veterinary exam! ✏️ READ THE UPDATE: .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼💤 Have you seen our giant panda cub catching some Zs? Get the latest news on our cub’s snooze! ✏️ UPDATE: .
. . .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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We welcomed 7 cheetah cubs at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute on July 9th! The cubs were born to first-time mom Erin, and all are doing well! MORE
#WeSaveSpecies
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Meet our new prehensile-tailed porcupette, born overnight Aug. 12 to 5 y.o. parents Beatrix and Quillbur! Small Mammal House keepers + vets say its weight gain, firm grip, vocalizations and movements are all indicators of good health. Boy or girl? We’ll know in a couple weeks!
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🐼❤️ Our giant panda cub is growing! As our newborn packs on the grams, it is becoming a bit easier to spot on the Panda Cam. Now that the cub’s markings have come in, we have a few weeks to go before the next big milestone. ✏️ UPDATE: .
#PandaStory
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🥳🐼 Hip hip hooray, it's Xiao Qi Ji's birthday! Our giant panda cub and his mother, Mei Xiang, received two panda-friendly fruitsicle cakes made with frozen-diluted grape and apple juice, sweet potato, apple, pear, carrot, sugar cane, bamboo and lots of love. ❤️🎂
#PandaStory
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🐼❤️ Last night around 5:40 p.m., Mei Xiang placed the cub on the floor of her den for just a few seconds, giving all of those watching the Panda Cam a fantastic view of her growing cub. ✏️READ THE UPDATE: .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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A quick red panda cub weigh-in. Moonlight’s cub is 434g. Nutmeg’s cubs are 413g & 316g. Nearly 1lb. of adorable each.
#WeSaveSpecies
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🐼 Rub-a-dub-dub
#TianTian
in a tub! Keepers gave him a non-toxic bubble bath for enrichment.
#PandaStory
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Can you dig it? We’ve got meerkat pups—the first in 16 years! Keepers reported for duty the morning of May 10 and observed that 5-year-old Sadie had given birth overnight. See them explore their habitat and burrow at the Small Mammal House. MORE: .
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🎃👻 Happy Halloween! Seasons creepings from all your friends at Smithsonian's National Zoo.
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🔊🐆Turn your sound up for this
#InternationalCheetahDay
moment! Cheetahs purr, bark, growl, hiss and chirp. This cub was vocalizing to warn a potential predator (or a keeper) to stay back. Miss the last cheetah update? Spot it here: .
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❤️🦍 A new
#GorillaStory
chapter has begun! We are delighted to share that Calaya and Baraka welcomed their second baby early in the morning Saturday, May 27. The primate team reports that the family is doing well. LEARN MORE: .
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🐆🥰 Cheetah cuddle party! Meet the newest members of our Zoo family, born 9/12 at our Front Royal, Virginia, campus. Mother Echo is doing an amazing job caring for her cubs—3 boys + 2 girls—and the newborns appear strong, active, vocal and well-fed. 📽️: .
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🐼❤️ The results are in! We are thrilled to share that our sweet 6-week-old giant panda cub is a. . . ✏️LEARN MORE: .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼🐾 Keep your paws crossed! Today, Zoo veterinarians saw exciting movements during giant panda Mei Xiang’s ultrasound. Her fetus was kicking + swimming in the amniotic fluid, and its spine + blood flow were visible. We hope to have a healthy cub in the coming days!
#PandaStory
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🐼❤️ Exciting news! When giant panda Mei Xiang left the den yesterday to eat some bamboo, the panda team was able to retrieve her 3-week-old cub for its first neonatal exam. ✏️ READ THE UPDATE: .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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You made it through Monday! Celebrate with this video of
#MeiXiang
rolling in the snow from last week.
#PandaStory
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Missed your 🐼 panda fix? We’ve got you covered and all your other top news from the Zoo and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
#WeSaveSpecies
#PandaStory
READ
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🥳🐼 Happy 25th birthday, Mei Xiang! 🎶 This morning, she celebrated her birthday in style with a beautiful fruitsicle cake. The tasty treat is made of frozen-diluted apple juice, apples and mashed sweet potatoes + carrots. Join us in wishing her a happy birthday! 🎂
#PandaStory
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🐼❤️ That’s one small step for Xiao Qi Ji, one giant leap into our hearts. Our little giant panda cub marked yet another big milestone. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, he took his very first steps! 🐾✏️STORY + PHOTOS: .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐯Our 2-week-old Sumatran tiger cub appears to be a boy! Got a quick look & weight, 6.5 lbs
#GlobalTigerDay
is 7/29!
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A keeper's view of
#BeiBei
in a tree. In the wild cubs are safer in trees than on the ground.
#PandaStory
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Screaming hairy armadillo Sherman goes wild for enrichment toys! Magical moments like this happen here every day, inspiring awe + aww. Donate on
#GivingTuesday
and your gift will be matched up to $20,000, supporting animal ambassadors like Sherman. 🎁❤️: .
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🐼 🎍 Our little panda cub had a big week—from his first virtual encounter via livestream broadcast to his first taste of bamboo! ✏️KEEPER UPDATE: .
. . .
📧❤️ Get pandas in your inbox: .
. . .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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Custom travel crates, about 800 lbs. each, were made for giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji for their journey from the Zoo to Chengdu via the
@FedEx
Panda Express. Also, onboard is our expert panda care team. Stay tuned for departure!
#PandaStory
🐼🐼🐼🛫
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🐼❤️ Although our giant panda cub is still perfecting his crawling skills, mom Mei Xiang is helping her son see the world beyond their den. Over the weekend, the pair took a brief “field trip” into their indoor habitat. ✏️STORY: .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼❤️ Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s curiosity about the world around him is growing. Pause for an inspirational moment with our adorable little explorer. ✏️STORY: .
. . .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼🐾 Like a playful panda cub in a crate, we hope your weekend is pawsitively delightful!
. . .
Enrichment toys like this milk crate encourage giant panda Mei Xiang and her cub Xiao Qi Ji to keep physically active and mentally sharp through play and exploration.
#PandaStory
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❤️🐼 Pause for a moment of
#NatZooZen
and watch giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji explore new sites and climb to new heights. ✏️STORY: .
. . .
#PandaStory
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Join us in wishing a very happy Leap Day birthday to our sand cat, Desiree! 🐈 🎂Desiree was born on Feb. 29 of 2016 and celebrated her second birthday today! Tomorrow, Friday Mar. 1, guests are invited to join her celebration at 2 pm for a special sand cat treat! 🎁
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🚨WARNING🚨 Many, many pumpkins 🎃were harmed in the making of this video. 🐆🐾🐒🐱🐼🐺
#HappyHalloween2018
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🐼🔴🍠 Enrichment toy smeared with sweet potato just *might* be Xiao Qi Ji’s favorite treat. This week, keepers gave our giant panda cub a new food to nibble on: biscuits! ✏️KEEPER UPDATE: .
. . .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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Keepers let
#BeiBei
explore a behind-the-scenes outdoor area today with a light dusting of snow.
#WeSaveSpecies
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The Zoo is mourning the loss of Walnut, a 42 y.o. white-naped crane who became an internet sensation for choosing one of her keepers as her mate. “Walnut was a unique individual with a vivacious personality,” said Chris Crowe, her keeper. STORY: .
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❤️🐼🎁 Happy 9th birthday to Asa, our bold and clever "panda in charge!" Visiting the Zoo today? Stop by Asia Trail's red panda habitat at 10 a.m. to celebrate with Asa and Chris-Anne and watch them enjoy "The Wizard of Asa"-themed enrichment. 👋VISIT: .
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Our fav Saturday morning eye opener 👀? Coffee ☕ with a side of 🐼 cub cuteness. Keep tabs on our little guy, now 4.5 lbs. of adorable 😍, on the Zoo's Giant Panda Cam 💻 ➡️ .
#PandaStory
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🐼❤️ Giant panda Mei Xiang continues to be a wonderful mother to her newborn. Last night, she gently set the cub down on the floor of their den and walked into her main indoor enclosure to drink some water and eat some sugar cane. ✏️ UPDATE: .
#PandaStory
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❤️🐼 Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji is branching out into new places to play! Get the story behind this video in assistant curator Laurie Thompson’s latest
#PandaStory
update. ✏️STORY: .
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🐼❤️ Snuggle time! Our newborn giant panda has little fur and cannot regulate its own body temperature, so Mei Xiang cradles the cub to keep it warm. ✏️READ THE UPDATE: .
. . .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼 Giant panda Mei Xiang has become increasingly restless and began body licking—both signs that labor has probably started! Our giant panda team is closely monitoring her via the Panda Cam for a cub’s arrival. Watch with us! 👀🎥 TUNE IN: .
#PandaStory
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🐼❤️ After five days just under 135,000 votes cast, we are thrilled to share that our 3-month-old giant panda cub’s name is. . . ✏️LEARN MORE: .
. . .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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❤️🐼 Thank you, mom, for all that you do! In honor of
#MothersDay
this Sunday, May 9, enjoy a sweet and playful moment of
#NatZooZen
between giant panda Mei Xiang and her son, Xiao Qi Ji
. . .
#PandaStory
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🐼❤️ Giant panda Mei Xiang and her newborn cub continue to do well. As mom shifts from a resting position to a nursing position and vice-versa, she occasionally holds the cub delicately in her mouth. ✏️READ THE UPDATE: .
#PandaStory
#PandaCubdates
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🐼💦Keepers gave
#BeiBei
a tub of water recently and he plopped himself right in it.
#PandaStory
#WeSaveSpecies
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❤️🐼 As we head into the weekend, enjoy this adorable moment of *paws* with our playful giant panda cub, Xiao Qi Ji. 🐾
. . .
#NatZooZen
#PandaStory
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❤️🐼 Happy Saturday! Relax and treat yourself to some giant panda mom and cub joy, courtesy of the Panda Cam. 🎥 TUNE IN: .
#PandaStory
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🐼This is what delicious sounds like. The pandas get frozen sugar cane as a special treat.
#PandaStory
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