Baby panda born at Taipei Zoo

TAIPEI, Taiwan, July 7 (UPI) -- A female baby panda was born at Taipei Zoo, becoming the first panda ever born in Taiwan, officials said Sunday.

The newborn, which was born to giant panda Yuan Yuan on Saturday, will be presented to the public within the next six months, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported.

Until then, the baby panda is being kept in an incubator for observation by zookeepers, officials said.

"The next week will be crucial," said Chang Chih-hua, convener of the zoo's giant panda breeding center, adding that baby pandas have a higher death rate within the first week of birth.

Zookeepers will track the newborn's weight gain and its success in taking in her mother's milk, Chang said.

Later, the zoo will let the public participate in the naming the panda, Chang said.

Yuan Yuan and her male partner, Tuan Tuan, were gifted by China to Taiwan in 2008.