U.S. zoo names giant panda cub 'little miracle'

(ECNS) -- The Smithsonian's National Zoo named the three-month-old male giant panda cub "Xiao Qi Ji"　(Little miracle in English) on Monday.

The panda cub was born to female giant panda Mei Xiang in Washington, D.C. On Aug. 21.

It was the first time a U.S. zoo had successfully conceived and delivered a giant panda through artificial insemination.

The 22-year-old Mei Xiang also became the oldest giant panda in the U.S. to give birth.

As the chance of giving birth at Mei Xiang's age is less than 1 percent, Xiao Qi Ji is indeed a "wonderful miracle".

His birth also "offered the world a much-needed moment of joy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic."