Xiao Qi Ji Gets His Wriggle On During Health Check

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: December 14, 2020 6:15 pm

giant panda cub smithsonian's national zoo

Xiao Qi Ji the giant panda cub during his health check

Photo Credit: Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Xiao Qi Ji the giant panda at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo born in August is starting to move around more. He now uses a mixture of crawls and walks with his walking skills improving day by day. On some recent trips in to the larger inside enclosure Xiao Qi Ji has been seen making his way back to the den.

His coordination has improved in recent weeks. He has now been seen placing his legs under his body and gaining traction on the floor.

Xiao Qi Ji the giant panda cub during his health check

Photo Credit: Smithsonian’s National Zoo

This week he has also shown how curious he is becoming. One of his new adventures this week was to try mouthing some of his mom’s bamboo. At this point his main food source is still milk provided by mom, Mei Xiang and it will remain this way till around 1 year old.

On December 9th he underwent his fourth veterinary exam. During this exam he received his third dose of the canine distemper vaccine. He is so wiggly now that keepers struggled to obtain his length and girth measurements as usual. Keepers were able to obtain a weight with the little cub now weighing 6.1kg (13.4lbs).

Xiao Qi Ji the giant panda cub during his health check

Photo Credit: Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Chief veterinarian at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Dr. Don Neiffer, checked the cub’s eyes and mouth, listened to his heart and lungs, and felt his muscles. Overall, the wiggly cub is very healthy!

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It is now only weeks before the cub will explore outside. Before he can go outside he will need to receive his rabies vaccine and be able to walk and climb on his own.