National Zoo Anticipates Baby Panda Bao Bao's Public Debut

The National Zoo's baby giant panda, Bao Bao, is getting bigger. And now she has her own Instagram account! Well, it's the National Zoo's, but the only posting is a recent video of Bao Bao. Typical parents. 

But Bao Bao's Instagram debut isn't the only sign she's growing up.

A little more than a month ago, the baby panda turned 100 days old and got her name. Find out how it was chosen. 

And Starting Saturday, she'll be in the Panda House with her giant panda parents.

The Panda House will be open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. until Monday. Starting Tuesday, it will open to the general public at 10 a.m. 

"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, follow the 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. 

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