Less than a day after being separated from his mother because of a health scare, Zoo Atlanta’s newest panda is back with his mom, Lun Lun.

Officials reintroduced the pair Tuesday afternoon after the male cub spent much of the previous 19 hours in an incubator. The zoo was trying to get the newborn’s body temperature up and provide some much needed nourishment.

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Zoo Atlanta

The giant panda cub, shown here in front of mother Lun Lun, was born Saturday night.

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“Lun Lun showed immediate interest in the cub when it was presented just outside the den, and was very focused on the cub as it vocalized,” the zoo said. “Based on these positive signs, the cub was placed in the den and Lun Lun picked it up and cradled it.”

The cub was removed from Lun Lun’s care late Monday after the zoo’s favorite mom twice put down her small offspring.

The cub cried out the first time, causing Lun Lun to immediately return to him, officials said. The second time, however, he made no noise and did not appear to be moving, forcing the zoo to transfer him to the incubator.

“This is a guarded situation,” Dennis Kelly, chief executive officer and president of Zoo Atlanta, said early Tuesday in a press briefing. “This animal is so small that we are concerned.”

Lun Lun’s move was unusual because giant pandas normally never let go of their offspring in the first few weeks after birth.

Panda cubs can lose body heat rapidly, a serious threat to their health during their early days.

Zoo officials think part of the problem is that Lun Lun may not have been creating enough mother’s milk. The milk provides antibodies to fight off infections during the cub’s first few days.

Since being reintroduced, the cub has periodically vocalized strongly, a positive sign, the zoo said. When caretakers examined him at 4:30 p.m., the infant, which is about the size of a cellphone, had gained a little weight. They also noted that there were no signs of abnormalities or bacteria in the cub because of the hand-rearing process.

“We are encouraged by Lun Lun’s positive response to the reintroductions and their first few hours back together,” the zoo said. “However, given the sudden decline experienced on Monday, zoo staff will remain extra vigilant, and may periodically separate the cub from Lun Lun for brief assessments of its condition.”

The cub, born Saturday about 10:10 p.m., is the second born at Zoo Atlanta to Lun Lun. Her other offspring is Mei Lan, who turns 2 this Saturday.

Kelly said the zoo’s Panda Cam, set up so that visitors could see Lun Lun and her cub, will remain shut down for now.