Shin Shin the panda has given birth to the first naturally born panda in Japan for almost 25 years.

Shin Shin and her partner Ri Ri arrived in Tokyo from China in February 2011 and were recorded mating earlier this year.

The new mother began showing signs of pregnancy such as a diminished appetite, more time sleeping and hormonal changes and this raised hopes that perhaps she was pregnant.

The much-awaited cub was delivered on July 5 at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo.

The sex of the baby remains unknown.