Perhaps the most widely discussed animal news of 2012 was that the National Zoo, for the first time since 2005, successfully impregnated its resident female giant panda, Mei Xiang. And when a panda cub was born in the late hours of September 16, panda lovers rejoiced. But, it wasn’t to last. The cub died just six days later, throwing into sadness the zoo’s many visitors and forcing the zoo’s staff to contemplate the future of Mei Xiang and her companion, Tian Tian. Still, there was plenty of happy animal news in 2012. It should be noted that the panda cub’s death took place in the shadow of new life. In the past year, the National Zoo welcomed newborn cheetahs, gazelles, otters and Andean bear cubs. There were plenty of squee-worthy moments beyond Rock Creek Park. We got up close with Bo, President Obama’s pet Portuguese water dog, and watched in delight when Secret Service agents helped a family of ducklings scamper across Pennsylvania Avenue. And, of course, who could forget the biggest animal appearance of the year, when a certain inflatable fish returned to lord over Silver Spring, Md.? Here are some our most popular animal posts of 2012.