via Smithsonian’s National Zoo

And there was great joy throughout the land.

From the National Zoo:

“Giant panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a cub at Smithsonian’s National Zoo today, Aug. 21.

Animal care staff witnessed the birth at 6:35 p.m. Mei Xiang picked the cub up immediately and began cradling and caring for it. The panda team heard the cub vocalize and glimpsed the cub for the first time briefly immediately after the birth.

They are monitoring Mei Xiang and her cub via the Zoo’s panda cams. A neonatal exam will be performed when keepers are able to retrieve the cub, which may take a few days. The sex of the cub will not be determined until a later date.”