The National Zoo is extending its hours for the giant panda house this weekend as panda cub Bao Bao makes her public debut.
Saturday is the first chance for the public to see the 5-month-old cub. The zoo says the panda house will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Visitors will be allowed into the building in small groups to avoid overcrowding.
Beginning next Tuesday, the panda house will be open to zoo members at 8 a.m. before it opens to the general public at 10 a.m.
The zoo says the amount of time Bao Bao and panda mother Mei Xiang will be on exhibit each day depends on their behavior. They will have access to their private den if they choose.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
