Female panda born in Sichuan

A female panda was born in the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan province on Tuesday evening, increasing the number of pandas there to 113.

Before the latest arrival, the cub's mother, Jiao Zi, had already given birth to seven cubs.

On March 13, she received artificial insemination.

"She started eating less on August 14, but occasionally feasted on apples and bamboo. On the morning of September 4, she ate nothing and gave birth to a female cub weighing 181 grams at 7:22 pm," said the center's chief Zhang Zhihe.

At 7:15 pm on Tuesday, the head and forelimbs of the cub were visible. However, the lower part of the cub's body was trapped inside her mother.

"Jiao Zi first tried to take out the cub with her mouth. Afraid of hurting the cub, however, she stood up instead and pushed. Seven minutes later, the cub was born," Zhang said.

Although the cub had been trapped inside her mother for quite a long time, her first cry was loud, much to the surprise of onlookers.

The mother and the cub are doing well.