Giant Panda Lun Lun Gives Birth

ATLANTA - Zoo Atlanta officials say giant panda Lun Lun has given birth to her third cub.

The birth occurred at 5:39 a.m Wednesday after about four hours of labor.

The 13-year-old expectant giant panda had been under close monitoring since the birth watch began in October, zoo officials say.

"We have a very healthy giant panda cub," said zoo veterinarian Sam Rivera.

The cub weighs about 4 ounces and was described by zoo officials as being about the size of a cell phone. It will take several weeks for the cub to develop its signature black and white fur.

Zoo officials said the cub will go on display next spring. Panda fans can keep up with the cub's growth at the zoo's online panda cam, which showed Lun Lun licking and cuddling the cub Wednesday moing.

Lun Lun’s labor with her first offspring, Mei Lan, lasted 36 hours and is still the longest giant panda labor ever recorded. By comparison, Lun Lun’s second cub, Xi Lan, arrived in just under nine hours, say zoo officials.

The cub is the only giant panda bo in the U.S. in 2010 and is the third for Lun Lun and 13-year-old male Yang Yang, Zoo Atlanta officials say.

These ultrasound photos show Zoo Atlanta giant panda Lun Lun's fetus, and they mark the first time a giant panda fetus has ever been viewed in 4-D images at a U.S. zoological institution.

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