Feature: U.S. zoo names giant panda cub "little miracle"

Source: Xinhua| 2020-11-24 13:10:10|Editor: huaxia

Undated photo taken on November, 2020 shows the giant panda cub "Xiao Qi Ji" at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States. "Xiao Qi Ji," which translates into English as "little miracle," is the name given to the giant panda cub born three months ago in Washington, D.C., the zoo where he was born announced Monday. (Smithsonian's National Zoo/Handout via Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The giant panda cub, born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo here three months ago, has been named "Xiao Qi Ji," which translates as "little miracle" in English.

The National Zoo announced the name for the male cub on Monday after five days of voting from the public, who had been given four choices.

"Xiao Qi Ji's birth offered the world a much-needed moment of joy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic," the National Zoo said in a release. "His name reflects the extraordinary circumstances under which he was born and celebrates the collaboration between colleagues who strive to conserve this species."

Xiao Qi Ji is indeed a miracle. He was born through artificial insemination to female giant panda Mei Xiang with frozen semen collected from Tian Tian, the zoo's adult male.

That has made Mei Xiang, 22, the oldest giant panda in the United States and the second oldest documented in the world to give birth. That is also the first time a zoo in the country has experienced a successful pregnancy and birth via artificial insemination using only frozen semen.

In a video message, Steve Monfort, John and Adrienne Mars director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, hailed the birth of Xiao Qi Ji as a shared success, stressing that the cub "represents yet another achievement" in the zoo's decades-long partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to help save the species.

"Our miracle cub has already brought all of us so much joy in this truly unique time. He will be a source of our memories for years to come," Monfort added.

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai also extended his congratulations to Xiao Qi Ji on the naming.

"Both our American friends & people back in China are caring about Xiao Qi Ji," Cui tweeted. "We are connected in the growth of our little ambassador, and in our shared joy and friendship."

Both Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji are "doing fantastic" and they are both increasing in weight, keeper Marty Dearie told Xinhua.

The schedule of Mei Xiang, who gave birth to Xiao Qi Ji on Aug. 21, has "shifted back mostly to what we would expect to see from a panda at this time of year," Dearie said. "She's eating about four to five times a day. The only difference is now she has a cub, so she's periodically got to stop check in on him. Nurse him."

Thanks to Mei Xiang, whom Dearie called "a phenomenal mother," Xiao Qi Ji is also growing very nicely.

The latest checkup showed him tipping the scales at almost 5 kg (roughly 11 pounds). From the tip of his nose to the base of his tail, he measured 56 cm (22 inches). His abdominal girth was 46 cm (18.1 inches).

According to his keepers, Xiao Qi Ji has already been practicing his crawling skills and is expected to start walking when he turns four months old. He's right now only eating milk from Mei Xiang and will likely begin nibbling on bamboo, biscuits or fresh produce from about six months old.

Dearie said Xiao Qi Ji has not displayed a clear personality because at this stage giant panda cubs "sleep a lot" and "don't move around much" but mentioned that a few team members who have worked with all four cubs of Mei Xiang said the youngest sibling reminded them of his oldest brother, Tai Shan.

"He's very comfortable around us. We pick him up to weigh him or for the veterinary exams, things like that. And he doesn't seem bothered by it," the keeper said. "In fact, sometimes he falls asleep in my arm. It's very cute."

The National Zoo received its first pair of giant pandas, dubbed as China's "national treasure," in 1972 as a gift from Beijing and ever since it has collaborated with Chinese professionals in studying and preserving the species, while the two sides have built excellent partnership and friendship.

"We've had a 48-year history working with our Chinese counterparts and it's gone extremely well. We're so proud of that relationship," Monfort told Xinhua. "We believe it's a great example of how cooperation can lead to huge success. That's really what we focus on... we both share a dream of conserving and saving giant pandas." Enditem

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