'Pure joy': Giant panda at U.S. National Zoo gives birth to healthy cub

FILE PHOTO: Giant Panda mom Mei Xiang (L) and her cub Bao Bao (R) wrestle in the snow at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington January 27, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

(Reuters) - Giant panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a healthy cub on Friday at the National Zoo in Washington, and immediately began nursing and cuddling the tiny new arrival, animal care staff said.

It was too early to tell whether the infant is male or female but the baby marks the fourth successful pregnancy for Mei Xiang, a 22-year-old panda who, because of her advanced age, had a slim chance of having a healthy cub, zoo officials said.