The maternal instinct is very strong, and this does not only apply to humans, as these pictures show.

The Atlanta Zoo in the US yesterday celebrated the birth of a giant panda by 13-year old Lun Lun.

The as-yet unnamed newborn, which was conceived via artificial insemination, is the third to be born to Lun Lun and the cub’s father, 13-year-old Yang Yang and is the only giant panda born in the US this year.

“This is a joy we share with the city of Atlanta, our colleagues in China, and our counterparts at our fellow zoological organisations housing giant pandas in the US,” zoo deputy director Dwight Lawson said.

Visitors to the zoo will be able to view the cub as from next spring, zoo officials said. The cub, which is the size of a mobile phone, was delivered in a specially-prepared birthing den at the zoo’s giant panda installation.

Caretakers at the zoo were monitoring the mother and cub round-the-clock, and would perform a hands-on veterinary inspection as soon as staff is able to remove the cub without disrupting maternal care.

Also this week, the London Zoo welcomed the first birth of a baby gorilla in 20 years.