Giant Panda Cub Bei Bei Gets Emergency Surgery at DC National Zoo

WASHINGTON, DC — Giant panda cub Bei Bei got quite the scare on Thanksgiving after needing an emergency bowel obstruction surgery to remove a lemon-sized mass of bamboo, but he appears to be recovering nicely so far, according to a statement from the Smithsonian National Zoo on Friday.

Bei Bei started showing signs of stomach discomfort and nausea on Thanksgiving Day, and keepers noticed he was sleeping more than normal and not eating. After giving the cub an anti-nausea medication injection and monitoring him throughout the night, zoo staff decided early on Friday to take Bei Bei to a vet hospital.

An ultrasound of his stomach and bowels showed a blockage, and the veterinarian team knew they would need to act quickly to get the blockage out before it caused internal damage.

Volunteer Dr. Sebastian Gordon, a board-certified veterinary surgeon from Lazar Veterinary Surgery, performed the surgery to remove the bamboo mass. Currently, Bei Bei is awake and recovering in the David M. Rubenstein Giant Panda Habitat, according to the statement.

“I’m extremely proud and thankful for our team of keepers, veterinarians, animal care staff, volunteer medical experts and all staff who have helped facilitate the urgent response,” Director Dennis Kelly said in the statement. “Bei Bei’s prognosis is very good. The challenge will be for our team to monitor him safely and that requires his cooperation. We will keep everyone up to speed as he recovers.”

Bei Bei will drink water and then transition to soft foods like pears and sweet potatoes before returning to eating bamboo. Fortunately, however, it shouldn't take long for Bei Bei to be back to normal.

The Zoo has pledged to provide daily updates on Bei Bei's recovery via social media. He will be housed separately from Mei Xiang, his mother, during his recovery.

Image via Smithsonian