A giant panda who fled captivity and remained at large for four and a half years gave birth to a female cub in southwest China on Saturday, eight months after she was recaptured, an expert said.

The cub, weighing 160 grams, was born at 8:50 a.m. at the China Wolong Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, which is based in Sichuan Province, said the center's head Zhang Hemin.

The delivery, the first fruit of artificial insemination this year among the endangered species, turned the celebrity giant panda, known for her unruliness, a heroine again, said Zhang.

The mother, named Bai Xue, or Snow White, received artificial insemination three months ago.

Both mother and daughter are in good condition, Zhang said.

By Xinhua