Panda Files: "First Time"

San Diego Zoo’s Panda Cub Explores Outside Habitat, Greets Public for First Time

     It was a big day for the San Diego Zoo’s panda cub, Xiao Liwu: this was his first time in front of onlookers. The cub stepped into the outside habitat by himself this morning and climbed through the bamboo as employees and media representatives got their first glimpses of the five-month-old cub.

     Panda staff say the cub is a confident climber but may have some tumbles while he’s getting used to the new habitat, which is very normal. There are trees, a moat and rocks to climb over, which are all new elements for the cub.

     Only 1,600 giant pandas are believed to exist in the wild, and the species is primarily threatened by habitat loss. San Diego Zoo Global, in conjunction with giant panda experts from the People’s Republic of China, continues to work on science-based panda conservation programs at the Zoo and in China.Photo taken on Jan. 9, 2013, by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo.