Tai Shan Gets Vaccine, Gives Bark at Ninth Exam

Tai Shan, the National Zoo's giant panda cub, had his ninth exam today at the Panda House and continues to develop normally. The 15-week-old Tai Shan, pronounced tie shahn, let out "a sharp, loud bark" when he got a vaccination against canine distemper, according to a statement from the zoo.

The cub, who was the size of a stick of butter when born July 9, now weighs 14.1 pounds and measures 27.1 inches long from head to tail. He also now has molars in addition to upper and lower incisor and canine teeth.

Zoo staff continued today in their efforts to get the cub acclimated to his eventual public debut, probably in December. They placed Tai Shan on a bed of hay in the indoor exhibit. But his mother, Mei Xiang, came back inside and quickly returned the cub to the den, which is hidden from public view except for the zoo's 24-hour Web camera.

Chief veterinarian Suzan Murray, assistant curator Lisa Stevens and zoo keeper Brenda Morgan participated in today's exam.

Tai Shan got his name Monday in a ceremony timed for his 100-day birthday. It means peaceful mountain in Chinese and was the overwhelming choice of voters who participated in the zoo's online naming poll.

The zoo released photos and a video from the exam.