Mei Xiang the panda gives birth to healthy cub in a joyful twist we all needed

Pandas are notorious for not getting it on — or at least, not successfully mating. While breeding pandas in captivity is more successful now than it was in the mid-twentieth century, according to LiveScience, a birth of a healthy cub is always cause for celebration.

On Friday night, 22-year-old panda Mei Xiang gave birth at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. She immediately began nurling and cuddling her newborn, staff told Reuters. The chances of a successful pregnancy and birth were low due to Mei Xiang's age, especially because she's had several failed pregnancy attempts. 

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