Panda Cub Xiao Qi Ji Explores With Mom

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: April 4, 2021 12:30 am

Xiao Qi Ji the giant panda cub tries out apple and pear for the first time

Photo Credit: Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo has shown his bond with mom this week as the pair engaged in what is his quickly proving to be one of his favorite activities.

Mom, Mei Xiang joined her son to climb on his favorite play structure. The cub showed off his climbing, hanging and tumbling skills which he has been perfecting over the past two months.

Xiao Qi Ji the giant panda cub climbs at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Photo Credit: Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Previously cautious in his climbing activities the cub has shown more confidence recently and can now maneuver his way around the habitat with ease.

He has begun climbing trees along with the climbing structures. Recently a tree in the yard has become his favorite napping spot.

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Inside he has found some new sleeping spots too. He no longer retreats to the den instead laying down wherever he sees fit on the floor of the indoor dayroom.

March 22nd saw the cub trying out new foods with apple and pear joining his diet. These new additions were still not able to beat cooked sweet potato which is firming as his favorite food. It still outranks biscuits, bananas and homemade applesauce.

Xiao Qi Ji the giant panda cub tries out a new napping spot in his dayroom

Photo Credit: Smithsonian’s National Zoo

At his most recent weigh-in the cub reached a weight of 16.4kg (36lbs) an increase of 4 pounds since his previous weigh-in.

Finally the cub received some new enrichment items to enjoy. These include a large rubber tub which is kept in his den and a large plastic tub in the yard which he enjoys climbing in and out of.