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Bao Bao's big day: Baby panda Bao Bao ventures outside at the National Zoo

Bao Bao, the baby panda living at the National Zoo, took her first steps outside on Tuesday. Baby Bao Bao climbed a tree and sat on the grass, report zoo officials.

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Charles Dharapak/AP/File
Bao Bao, a giant panda cub seen here on Jan. 7, stepped outside Tuesday for the first time in her young life.
  • By Associated Press

| WASHINGTON

National Zoo giant panda cub Bao Bao has ventured outside for the first time.

The zoo says Bao Bao spent about two hours outside Tuesday with mother Mei Xiang . The zoo says Bao Bao tried out her climbing skills on one of the smaller trees and sat on the grass with a piece of bamboo.

Zookeepers had said Monday that Bao Bao would have the option of going outside if the temperature was at least 35 degrees and it was not raining or snowing.

Animal keepers "cub-proofed" the panda yards before allowing Bao Bao outside. They placed collars on trees to prevent the cub from climbing too high. Some tree limbs have been trimmed, and the keepers spread out bales of hay to cushion any falls.

Bao Bao was born August 23, 2013, and her name can be translated as "treasure" or "precious."

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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