2021-01-21 Happy 5 Month Birthday, Xiao Qi Ji!

Day 153 #PandaStory: Xiao Qi Ji is 5 months old today! Our once tiny itty-bitty cub is now able to cubbie trot, climb the rockwork, play with toys, and play-fight with mother Mei Xiang.

This video has 3 scenes. The first is from around midnight. Mei Xiang had bleated, pulled him out of the den where they played out of camera view. While Mei ate, he went back to the den, but immediately raced out and startled Mei Xiang! He blew right past her and went to play with some bamboo, the treat ball, and the Kong toy. When Mei finished eating, she scooped him out and took him to the playpen, where play ensued (notice he's using the ledge now to launch a frontal attack), followed by a nursing bout.

The second scene was from early this morning before the keepers arrived. He was cubbie-trotting around after Mei Xiang, and climbing the rockwork in room 2. And he finally made it up the high side of room 3's rockwork. (No audio during this scene).

Just before 3pm this afternoon, after Mei bleated and they'd played once again just out of camera view, Xiao Qi Ji followed Mei to the playpen. After he nursed (not shown), Mei was resting on the ledge in front of her... and out pops our birthday boy!


Note from Doxie: I respectively ask that you do not post comments disparaging the Smithsonian's National Zoo's treatment of their Giant Pandas, or Mei Xiang's parenting of Xiao Qi Ji, or any comparisons to other Zoos. Also, a reminder that I am not employed by or affiliated with the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping this a place of positivity, celebration and joy!

Video recorded at Smithsonian's National Zoo's Panda Cam website: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/pa...
#PandaStory #MeiXiang #XiaoQiJi