Jul 05 (Japan Today) - Japan's panda-obsessed public got their latest fix of cute Tuesday as a Tokyo zoo released footage of its 20-day-old helpless cub, who has ballooned in size since its birth last month.
The tiny panda, still without a name, was the first to be born at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo in five years to the delight of animal lovers and local businesses, sparking 'panda fever' in the capital.
Distinctively pink and hairless, the animals typically weigh around 100 grams at birth -- small enough to fit in the palm of a human hand.
It can be difficult to determine their sex but the zoo confirmed last month that the newborn was a girl based on pictures sent to a research center in the shy animal's native China.
At two days old, she weighed just 147 grams and measured 14.3 centimeters in length, but zoo officials have since said she is growing well.
Footage shows the cub resting comfortably on a blanket Sunday as caretakers conducted a regular health check, with the cub now weighing in at 607.9 grams and measuring 23.4 centimeters.
The tiny baby also looks increasingly more panda-like, with the trademark black color around her eyes, ears and feet becoming clearer.
Her eyes remain closed as it usually takes about 40 days before panda cubs start seeing things, the zoo said.
Source: Kyodo
