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Hua Mei grew quickly from that little white baby into a robust, healthy, and rambunctious cub. Following Chinese tradition, she was named at 100 days old with a joyful celebration on December 1, 1999, at the Zoo that included the Chinese Consulate. Her name was chosen by the Zoo's Chinese colleagues, meaning “China USA” to honor the important collaboration between the two countries to save pandas.
As Hua Mei's eyes and ears opened and her vision and hearing got clearer, she also became more active, and exams got a little more interesting!
Veterinarian Dr. Meg Sutherland-Smith supports Hua Mei during one of the weekly exams, as Hua Mei lets everyone know, in what they were to learn was typical panda cub fashion—loud and insistent!—that she was not overly pleased with the proceedings.
By 54 days of age, Hua Mei's eye were starting to open, one of the milestones veterinarians and keepers were looking for. She started reacting to light—and started to see who had been carrying her around these last few weeks!
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1999

Vision 1997 - 2006
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