CCTV captures first moments of rare baby panda at Vienna zoo

The first panda in Europe to be conceived naturally by parents in captivity has been born in Austria.

Most pandas conceived in captivity are the product of artificial insemination but Vienna's Schoenbrunn Zoo said it wanted "to let nature run its course".

Female pandas are only fertile for three or four days each year.


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The cub, which measures 10cm (4in) and weighs 100g (0.22lb), is the product of the zoo's two resident giant pandas, female Yang Yang and male Long Hui.

The pair, both now seven years old, were loaned by China to the zoo in Vienna in 2003, and conceived their first cub on 27 April 2007, zoo officials said.

At a news conference, director Dagmar Schratter said the two "live in perfect harmony".

Update: The panda actually gave birth to twins but one unfortunately died. It is not clear whether the cub was stillborn or died after birth. There's CCTV footage of the birth on this page.