For the children who came to see the giant panda cubs in a Washington zoo over the weekend, they didn't realize the fight for survival was unfolding behind the exhibit. One of the smaller cub died on Wednesday due to breathing problems.

Wednesday morning, the zoo staff found the younger, smaller twin weaker, and struggling to breathe.

"Despite extreme efforts by our staff, we had no ability to change things," said Don Neiffer, Chief Veterinarian.

Zoo staff say female giant panda mother, Mei Xiang, didn't seem to realize the cub was in trouble, though she'd had difficulty holding and feeding both from the start.

Zoo staff were sharing feedings with her but Mei Xiang had refused to take the younger cub.

"I don't think it's fair really, because one is with the mom and one is not," said Jack McKenna, eight years old.

Many children never knew the fight for survival going on behind the panda exhibit finding joy instead at seeing the twins' older sister Bao Bao.

But In the middle of all the excitement over the pandas here at the National Zoo, there's a new and difficult conversation that parents have to have over the health of the second twin.

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