Panda gives birth at National Zoo

A giant panda at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington surprised scientists and zookeepers by becoming a mom again after years of failed pregnancies. Scientists at the zoo had all but given up on 14-year-old Mei Xiang's chances of conceiving, but they were watching the panda for a possible cub nonetheless after she was artificially inseminated earlier this year. She gave birth on Sept. 16, 2012, her first cub since 2005. In this photo taken on Dec. 19, 201, Mei Xiang is seen eating breakfast.

Mei Xiang, the female giant panda at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, eats breakfast on Dec. 19, 2011.

A trio of children climb and lean against the handrail of the closed Panda exhibit at the National Zoo in Washington the day after it was announced that the Zoo's female giant panda gave birth to a cub, Sept. 17, 2012, in Fairfax, Va.

Visitors walk past the Panda exhibit at the National Zoo in Washington the day after it was announced that the Zoo's female giant panda gave birth to a cub, Sept. 17, 2012, in Fairfax, Va.

The closed signs posted at the Panda exhibit at the National Zoo in Washington the day after it was announced that the Zoo's female giant panda gave birth to a cub, Sept. 17, 2012, in Fairfax, Va.

Dennis Kelly, Director of the National Zoo, during a news conference at the National Zoo in Washington the day after it was announced that the Zoo's female giant panda gave birth to a cub, Sept. 17, 2012, in Fairfax, Va.