Lun Lun the giant panda pregnant with fourth cub

Mike Krumboltz
The Atlanta Zoo's Lun Lun is expecting her fourth cub (AP Photo/Journal Constitution, Vino Wong, File)
The Atlanta Zoo's Lun Lun is expecting her fourth cub (AP Photo/Journal Constitution, Vino Wong, File)

Lun Lun, the 15-year-old giant panda who resides in Zoo Atlanta, is pregnant with her fourth cub.

Zoo Atlanta announced the pregnancy in a press release. Raymond B. King, president and CEO of the zoo, said, "We’re thrilled about the possibility of a fourth cub for Lun Lun, but we remain cautiously optimistic at this point. Giant panda cubs are extremely fragile, and the chance remains that the fetus does not go to term."

Lun Lun was artificially inseminated in March, and the zoo staff expects her to give birth in 2 to 3 weeks. Assuming everything goes well, her cub will be the first giant panda born in the United States this year.

Two years ago, Lun Lun gave birth to Po, a panda who was named after a character in the animated movie, "Kung Fu Panda."

According to Lun Lun's biography on Zoo Atlanta's website, her birth name was actually Hua Hua. Taiwanese rock star Su Huilun, who "adopted" Lun Lun, renamed her. Her favorite smells are cinnamon and mint, and she is considered to be "strikingly beautiful" for a panda, thanks in large part to her fluffy cheeks.

An ultrasound done earlier this week shows the fetus is currently 1.08 centimeters long, according to the press release.