Baby Panda Goes Outside for the First Time
The National Zoo's 7-month-old panda cub, Bao Bao, took her first steps outside into her mother's enclosure Tuesday. The baby panda quickly fell in love with the outdoors, tasting some bamboo and trying to climb a tree.
Bao Bao is still nursing, and she stayed close to her mother, Mei Xiang, who didn't seem too worried about the little one getting into trouble.
Bao Bao is busy exploring with Mei Xiang nearby #WeSaveSpecies pic.twitter.com/ajzJ116dIJ
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) April 1, 2014
While Mei is munching on some bamboo Bao Bao has been checking out a tree, but she hasn't climbed very high yet pic.twitter.com/XGAuo7vIPl
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) April 1, 2014
The area was made baby-panda-proof before the cub was allowed to explore.
"Keepers have placed bales of hay around the grotto and yard to cushion any potential falls," the Zoo said.