'Keeping up with the Kubs', panda moms take charge
As Mei holds her little cub very close keeping him/her warm and guiding the little one to her nipples so that they will take in the precious milk that helps the cub to grow healthy, eventually she will begin to relax her hold on the cub to a point where we will begin to see them more often.
The National Zoo staff is still on their 24 watch, as they had set up shortly before the birth. The early days are critical as they are for any newborn.
In San Diego, the young cub that Bai Yun is taking care of right now is just over 10 weeks old now, born on July 29, 2012. Bai and her cub seem to have settled into a regular routine now. It reminds me that when we do get a better chance to see Mei's cub, the one thing he/she will be doing is lots of sleeping!
All that milk along with a rapidly growing body, a cub needs its sleep. But its the little things you watch for like seeing their coloration change from pink to their distinctive black and white markings, seeing them try to maneuver in the nest area, wriggling around in their mothers arms, restless and still very vocal.
It won't be long and the cubs will be climbing all over their moms, pining for her affection. Whereas, in the early days it was keeping the cub warm and comfortable, soon momma Mei and Bai will be chasing their little cubs all over the enclosure as the cubs begin to explore every nook and cranny they come across in their new-found world.
Picking them up by the scruff of their neck, the mothers will let the cubs know what they can or can't do until they decide they are ready.
Its an amazing site to see the cubs go completely limp while being dragged back to the den or dropped gently to the ground, from the little tree or log they tried to climb up.
It can be quite comical and it certainly is amazing to observe the close bond between mother and cub.
It's a good day in panda world.
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