Photo: Courtesy of Smithsonian National Zoo/Abby Wood.While it's not technically a selfie, this clip is definitely the cutest thing you'll see this afternoon. Meet Bao Bao, the National Zoo's new baby panda, who made her big debut in an Instagram video earlier today. It's the first and only video on the National Zoo's brand-new Instagram account, but we've already clicked "Follow" in the hopes of future unbearably cute snaps.
For those who haven't experienced D.C.'s special brand of panda-monium, Bao Bao was born August 23, and has been kept separate from the zoo exhibition since birth. Tons of people have been getting to know her via the zoo's Panda Cam, and she’s pretty awesome. With over 9.5 million Panda Cam views, Bao Bao has garnered quite a following. And, on Saturday, January 18, she will finally meet her devotees at the zoo.
From Saturday through Monday, January 20, you can visit Bao Bao during extended zoo hours (from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). After that, you can catch a glimpse of her during normal operating hours (if she warms up to the paparazzi, that is). The zoo is planning on introducing other animals to the Instagram feed in the future, but for now, it’s all about this adorable baby panda. If you have an Instagram account and register on the zoo’s website, you'll be put in the running for the #ZooMeet, where a lucky group of 30 people will get special tour and access to Bao Bao on February 1. Watch the video below, and judge for yourself whether this is the cutest celebri-baby ever.