Daniela Berson
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) The smaller of two panda cubs born this week at the National Zoo has died.

At 3 p.m. the National Zoo issued the following statement:

“The smaller giant panda cub died this afternoon shortly after 2 p.m. More information will be provided at a press conference. The larger cub appears to be strong, robust, behaving normally and is with mother Mei Xiang.”

Concerns about the cub’s health surfaced yesterday when giant panda Mei Xiang rejected it.

Zookeepers planned to switch the twin cubs every few hours so Mei Xiang could spend time with both of them, but she refused to hand over the larger, healthier cub when prompted.

Yesterday, WMAL reported that the rejected cub was having trouble keeping food down and that its weight was fluctuating.

More information on its death is expected later this afternoon.

Copyright 2015 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: National Zoo)