After DCist noted this morning that the panda baby was happily grunting away – a very healthy sign – the National Zoo released news that the cub has had its first physical exam, and it’s a boy! Cigars all around! When Mei Xiang left the den, zoo officials grabbed their chance to examine him:

At the cub’s first exam, conducted by Dr. Sharon Deem, associate veterinarian, Laurie Perry, animal keeper, and Lisa Stevens, assistant curator, we learned that it’s a boy! He looks healthy, weighs 1.82 pounds (825.7 grams), and has a total body length of 12 inches (30 cm). We were able to get a heart rate and respiration. The cub was very quiet during the nine-minute exam, and let out only one squawk when its mouth was examined. It is very solid and sturdy and extremely cute.

No kidding about the cute part. Though the cub first looked like a terrible, furry spaceworm upon birth, we certainly think it’s well on its way to earning the cute title. You can see another exam photo here, and a shot of Mei Xiang cuddling with the baby here.

Photo courtesy of the National Zoo