Giant Panda Cub Makes Public Debut At Smithsonian National Zoo

WASHINGTON, DC – Hello, world!

Xiao Qi Ji, the 20-pound giant panda cub who resides at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, was ready for his national debut Wednesday. But because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the playful panda whose entry into the world is being deemed miraculous by National Zoo officials was introduced to the public virtually.

The National Zoo, which remains closed due to the pandemic, provided a live look inside of its Giant Panda Habitat in livestream at 1 p.m. ET Wednesday. The livestream lasted about five minutes, zoo officials announced this week, but will provide the public a chance to see Xiao Qi Ji walk, tumble and play as he explores his indoor surroundings.

The livestream will be available on the zoo’s YouTube Channel and Facebook Page.

The livestream will also include a chance to ask zoo officials questions and will give the public a virtual tour of the Panda House, where the 5-month-old cub calls home.

Last week, zoo officials announced that Xiao Qi Ji remains “cautious yet curious” about the world he entered in 2020. The cub takes after his mother, Mei Xiang, in that regard, according to Laurie Thompson, the assistant curator of the National Zoo’s giant pandas.

To celebrate his birthday, Xiao Qi Ji enjoyed a piece of sweet potato, which zoo officials had scooped up using a bamboo shred as a spoon. Zoo officials then handed the bamboo to the panda cub; he accepted it, paused for a moment and then enjoyed before he laid on his back to take in the rest of the portion of the new culinary treat.

“When we offered him more, he wouldn’t stop nibbling on it,” zoo officials said.

Zoo officials said last week that the young cub taking to sweet potatoes isn’t a surprise. The treat is a favorite of both his mother and father, Tian Tian. While Xiao Qi Ji still primary lives on his mother’s milk, he will eventually transition to eating bamboo and other solid foods after he turns 1.

As of a week ago, Xiao Qi Ji tipped the scales at 20.79 pounds and continues to make good gains in his weight. He will continue to “comfort nurse” off of his mother until he is 18 months old, but sometimes enjoys fruit and softened biscuits that are provided to his mother.

To stay active, Xiao Qi Ji plays with a red ball he received last week. The public is able to see some of his playful activity, which is captured on the zoo’s Giant Panda Cam. Zoo officials say that Xiao Qi Ji is an early riser and often plays in the morning or in the afternoons when his surroundings are being cleaned.

Wednesday’s public debut has been much anticipated, zoo officials said, after Xiao Qi Ji was born to Mei Xiang, who gave birth at age 22 and who was given a 1 percent chance of having another cub.