Tian Tian

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Say Goodbye to Tian Tian and Family

Giant panda, as well as mate Mei Xiang and cub Xiao Qi Ji are heading back to China on Wednesday

(Newser) - For nearly a quarter century, giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian have called the Smithsonian's National Zoo in DC home, part of a "panda diplomacy" initiative with China established during the Nixon years that involved loaning pandas to the US for breeding and research purposes. Now, the...

DC to Lose Famous Trio Due to 'Punitive Panda Diplomacy'

Amid strained relations with China, it's not clear if deal for pandas struck by Nixon will be renewed

(Newser) - The National Zoo's three giant pandas—Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their cub Xiao Qi Ji—are set to return to China in early December, with no public signs that the 50-year-old exchange agreement struck by former President Nixon will continue, reports the AP . National Zoo officials have remained...

Giant Panda Delivers 'Miracle' Cub' at DC's National Zoo

Mei Xiang, 22, is oldest giant panda in US to give birth, also first to do so in US using frozen semen

(Newser) - "A precious giant panda cub has arrived!" That was the excited tweet Friday evening from the National Zoo in Washington, DC, announcing the birth of what the Washington Post calls a "miracle cub." Giant panda Mei Xiang, 22, delivered a "wonderful, wiggly cub" at 6:...

We Now Know the Panda Cub's Gender

Surviving panda twin is a male: National Zoo

(Newser) - The National Zoo's panda parents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, have a son. The zoo announced this morning that the surviving panda cub is male and the son of the zoo's male panda, Tian Tian. Mei Xiang gave birth to fraternal twins Saturday, but the smaller cub—also...

UK on Another Baby Watch
 UK on Another Baby Watch 
Aug 9, 2013 9:06 AM CDT

UK on Another Baby Watch

This time it's a panda, and it would return to China

(Newser) - UK newspapers are filled with headlines of another high-profile pregnancy , or at least a suspected pregnancy. This time it's Tian Tian, a giant panda at the Edinburgh Zoo, reports the Scotsman . Tian Tian seems like she's pregnant—her hormone levels have changed, and she's showing signs of...

Liver Problem Killed Baby Panda: Zoo

Mother Mei Xiang reportedly improving

(Newser) - A National Zoo veterinarian says a liver problem was indeed to blame for the death last month of a 6-day-old giant panda cub. Chief veterinarian Suzan Murray told a news conference today that the cub's cause of death was liver necrosis, or the death of liver cells. Murray says...

National Zoo Welcomes Panda Cub

Mei Xiang gives birth to long-awaited second cub

(Newser) - After five consecutive false pregnancies since 2007, the National Zoo finally has a little panda bundle of joy: The zoo's giant panda female, Mei Xiang, gave birth to a cub last night at 10:46pm, reports the AP . Zoo staffers have yet to see the cub, which is ensconced...

Outcome of Hu's Visit: We Get Pandas Longer

Five more years, to be exact

(Newser) - Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, those sweet, cuddly pandas that rank among our national treasures, actually aren't ours—but we get to keep them for a little while longer. At last night's state dinner, Obama announced that China, which has been loaning us the creatures under an agreement that expired...

Tai Shan Turns 4
 Tai Shan Turns 4  
birthday slideshow
Jul 9, 2009 4:05 PM CDT

Tai Shan Turns 4

(Newser) - Tai Shan, the giant panda who captivated the world as a cub, turned 4 today and celebrated with a huge birthday cake only an animal could love. The three-tiered concoction was a frozen medley of water, beet juice, shredded beets, and bamboo, WTOP reports. Tai Shan, who is now considered...

Panda Lovin' Leaves DC Zoo Wanting
Panda Lovin' Leaves DC Zoo Wanting
Jan 19, 2009 8:40 AM CST

Panda Lovin' Leaves DC Zoo Wanting

Bears fail again at 'competent mating'; keepers help out

(Newser) - A romantic day in the park amid inaugural hubbub wasn’t enough to propagate the genes of two famous pandas at Washington’s National Zoo, the Washington Post reports. The pair had given mating calls, prompting hopes for the conception of a new member of the endangered species, which is...

National Zoo Pleads for Bamboo
National Zoo Pleads for Bamboo 
Jan 15, 2009 7:05 AM CST

National Zoo Pleads for Bamboo

Own harvest has failed; may not have enough to get through winter

(Newser) - The National Zoo is appealing for donations from landowners in the Washington area who may have stands of green crunchy bamboo stalks, reports the Washington Post. The zoo's own harvest of bamboo has failed and with the zoo's giant pandas, red pandas, elephants and gorillas eating 75,000 pounds of...

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