The giant panda born at the San Diego Zoo more than three months ago is healthy and gaining weight, zoo officials announced today after the cub's latest examination.
During his weekly exam, the cub weighed 11.7 pounds, over a pound more than last week, and measured 24.8 inches from head to tail.
"This little guy is very healthy and meeting all the developmental milestones right on target," said Amanda White, a veterinary resident at the San Diego Zoo.
White said the cub is also about to get teeth.
"During today's exam, I could feel his teeth are very close to coming through the gum, especially the incisors," she said.
The cub was born Aug. 5. Following Chinese tradition, he won't get a name until he is 100 days old.
His future name, chosen from more than 6,000 suggestions from the public, will be announced at an 11 a.m. ceremony on Nov. 17.
The cub was 18-year-old Bai Yun's fifth. Bai Yun's first cub, Hua Mei, was born in 1999, followed by Mei Sheng in 2003, Su Lin in 2005 and Zhen Zhen in 2007.
