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Sad end for baby panda: Ignored by mother Mei Xiang, smaller of her twin cubs dies of poor health

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The smaller of Mei Xiang's twin cubs is seen in this handout photo from Washington’s Smithsonian National Zoo. The cub died on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

One of the two giant panda twins born at Washington’s Smithsonian National Zoo over the weekend has died, turning unexpected joy to sadness in a matter of days.

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After an ultrasound revealed a possible pregnancy a week ago, zookeepers were greeted with another surprise Saturday when 17-year-old panda Mei Xiang gave birth to not one but two baby cubs.

But the keepers struggled to keep the smaller of the two healthy as Mei Xiang focused her attention on the larger cub.

The undersize cub - nearly about the weight of the other - passed away Wednesday, four days after its unexpected birth had made it an Internet sensation.

Mei Xiang is seen nursing one of her cubs in this video still shot on Tuesday. She had favoured the larger of her twins, with dire consequences for the smaller cub. Photo: AFP
Mei Xiang is seen nursing one of her cubs in this video still shot on Tuesday. She had favoured the larger of her twins, with dire consequences for the smaller cub. Photo: AFP
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“This is a very hard loss for us,” zoo director Dennis Kelly told a press conference.

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