Xing Bao, the giant panda cub born in the Madrid Zoo last August, made his first public appearance on Friday.

Xing Bao, five months old and weighs 10 kg took his first steps in the Panda Pagoda in the zoo under the excited gaze of visitors, especially the many children.

Xing Bao, or Treasure Star, and his mother will remain indoors until spring when it is warm enough for them to go outside.

According to tradition, he received his name 100 days after being born on August 30.

The development of the five-month old cub has pleased experts in Madrid. Maria Delclaux, the conservationist for terrestrial mammals at the zoo, highlights his development as "stupendous," although he"is still not old enough to eat bamboo and is not that good at walking yet."

She added that the public had been very much looking forward to seeing the cub as until now they have only been able to watch his development in the nursery by means of a television screen.

The fourth panda to be born in Madrid, Xing Bao will need around two years before he is fully independent from his mother, whose two previous cubs, Po and De De were taken to Chendu province in China last May with a view to eventually being released into the wild. Endi

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