Birthwatch underway for Zoo Atlanta panda Lun Lun

Birthwatch has officially begun for Lun Lun the giant panda’s newest cub. The expectant mother is believed to be nearing the end of her pregnancy, which was confirmed via ultrasound on June 30.

Beginning on July 10, 2013, the Animal Management Team will begin 24-hour monitoring of Lun Lun in her off-exhibit den in the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center. Panda fans from around the world will have the opportunity to watch and wait with Zoo Atlanta via PandaCam presented by EarthCam; a live feed will begin running 24 hours a day on July 10.

The cub, which will be the first giant panda born in the U.S. in 2013, will be the fourth for Lun Lun and male Yang Yang. The pair’s previous offspring are male Mei Lan, 6, now a resident of China’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and males Xi Lan and Po, ages 4 and 2.