National Zoo's Stillborn Panda Shows Challenges of Raising Cubs
Twin was never alive in womb; firstborn cub healthy, experts say.
Born Saturday night, the second cub had "developmental abnormalities" and was never alive, the Zoo said on its website. Stillbirth in giant pandas is "extremely rare," the Washington Post reported.
"Keepers watching Mei on the Panda Cam saw her groom it for 17 minutes," the Washington, D.C. zoo said on its website. "When she stopped grooming, it fell from Mei's body onto the floor … It lay motionless and made no sound."
Meanwhile, the frequently squealing firstborn cub had its first neonatal exam Sunday, and the Zoo reports it is "robust, fully formed, and is a bright, healthy shade of pink."
The youngster weighs about 4.8 ounces and seems to have a steady heart rate and well-functioning lungs. It's been feeding from Mei
