It’s a boy: Washington’s new panda cub gets gender reveal

Washington zoo revealed on Monday that its new panda cub is male, six weeks after webcam footage of his mother Mei Xiang giving birth was watched around the world.

A swab from the cub’s cheek was taken for DNA analysis, as male and female giant pandas appear similar at birth.

“The cub appears to be healthy and strong,” the Smithsonian’s National Zoo said, adding he weighed 3.6 pounds (1.6kg) and measured 14 inches (35cm) from nose to tail tip.

“Both of the cub’s eyes are starting to open. Keepers are encouraged by his progress,” it said.

A blue painting – by Tian Tian, the cub’s father, who made daubs on a canvas while holding a brush through his cage bars – was unwrapped by zookeepers to reveal the cub’s gender.