Community Corner

Baby Panda Bao Bao Makes Public Debut At National Zoo

Check out the photos zoo visitors got.

The baby panda at the Smithsonian National Zoo made an Instagram debut last week in anticipation of her public debut that drew visitors to the zoo this past weekend. 

Bao Bao was in the Panda House for extended hours during the weekend, but starting on Tuesday she was supposed to be open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The National Zoo closed on Tuesday due to snow, but will have Bao Bao back out when the weather clears. 

If you're planning to line up to see Bao Bao, here are some tips for your visit

"Visitors will be allowed in the Panda House on a first-come, first-served basis," the National Zoo website says. The zoo expects a lot of visitors for Bao Bao and will only be allowing small groups into the Panda House. 

But if you want more one on one time with the baby panda, followthe National Zoo on Instagram. On Feb. 1, 30 people who follow the zoo and register for the Giant Panda Cub Instameet will be chosen for early access to the Panda House. 

The National Zoo advises that although Bao Bao will be in the Panda House, she may remain hidden in her den. 

For a peek inside the Panda den, the National Zoo will continue to stream live video from the panda cam.  

Bao Bao was born in August at the National Zoo, making her the second healthy cub of the female giant panda Mei Xiang. A little more than a month ago, the baby panda turned 100 days old and got her name. Find out how it was chosen

According to the National Zoo, there are less than 2,000 giant pandas left in the world, wild and captivity combined. 


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