San Diego’s “Little Gift” Makes His Public Debut

/ Post by Pandas International

Giant Panda cub Xiao Liwu made his public debut on Thursday after the section of the exhibit frequented by the five-month old bear was opened to the public at the San Diego Zoo. The cub is the newest surviving panda born in captivity in the United States and was able to make his debut when staff members determined he was strong enough to climb and follow his mother around the enclosure.

Hundreds of visitors braved stormy conditions to watch the panda play in his enclosure and he did not disappoint. The16-pound male cub climbed a tree and posed for photos.

Kay Ferguson, the zoo’s Panda narrator says that Xiao Liwu is “shy and very loving. He’s inquisitive and he likes to play with balls. He’s very different from Bai Yun’s other five cubs.”