The giant panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a cub at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C
Panda-monium! Panda born at National Zoo; panda cam overwhelmed,
WASHINGTON -- The capital region's newest celebrity is no bigger than a stick of butter.
The National Zoo's female giant panda gave birth Sunday night, generating panda-monium in a city that has adored the rare creatures since the first pandas arrived in the wake of President Richard Nixon's 1972 groundbreaking trip to Beijing.
Zoo officials think they caught a glimpse, via panda cam, of the unnamed cub being clutched tightly by its mother, Mei Xiang (pronounced may-SHONG), but got confirmation of its arrival via loud squealing.