San Diego Zoo Panda Cub Shows Full Belly, Strong Legs at 11th Exam
- Category: Latest News
- Created on Thursday, 01 November 2012 20:09
San Diego, California - The panda cub at the San Diego Zoo marked two milestones this week: his first tooth and his advancement beyond crawling. His body condition was also above average, with ample fat stores over his spine and a full belly.
Senior veterinarian Tracy Clippinger, who conducted the cub's 11th exam, saw that the cub is pushing up on all four legs and getting his back feet to follow his front feet. The cub is able to keep his belly off the ground, which, she said "is beyond crawling, but not all the way walking."
The cub weighed 8.8 pounds (4 kilograms) this morning. His overall length, from nose to tail, is approximately 23.6 inches (60 centimeters).
When examining the cub's mouth, Clippinger noted that his first tooth broke through the gums on the upper left side of his mouth.