At the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, DC, a giant panda named Mei Xian gave birth to a cub on Friday. This was reported on the zoo's website. According to his employees, mom and baby are doing well.

Specialists will voice the sex of the newborn a little later. It is noted that the artificial insemination operation took place back in March.

Pandas are very demanding on the conditions of detention and practically do not breed in captivity. Mei Xian became the oldest giant panda in the United States and the second in the world to give birth to offspring. Previously, she already became a mother three times.

The giant panda is a rare animal listed in the Red Book and an unofficial symbol of China. They live in the mountainous regions of central China: Sichuan and Tibet. These animals actually eat only bamboo, only occasionally including other types of plants in their diet. An adult panda eats up to 30 kg of bamboo and shoots per day.