Ocean Park concluded this year’s three-day mating season for resident female giant panda Ying Ying and male giant panda Le Le on 9 April, and reopened the Park’s Giant Panda Adventure to the public today.
“During the three-day mating period, Ying Ying and Le Le were together for eight natural mating opportunities but all their attempts appeared unsuccessful. As female giant panda’s peak oestrous happen within 24 to 72 hours, artificial insemination on Ying Ying with Le Le’s semen were administered three times during this crucial window to help increase her chance of pregnancy in hope to contribute to thriving this vulnerable species. We will continue to closely monitor Ying Ying’s condition over the coming months and will update the public on the pair’s latest developments as information becomes available,” says Michael Boos, Executive Director in Zoological Operations and Conservation at Ocean Park.
“We have been working closely with Ocean Park’s animal care and veterinary team to determine the best timing for putting the two giant pandas together. We also arranged artificial insemination for Ying Ying to help increase her chance of pregnancy. If successful, signs of pregnancy, including fluctuations in hormonal levels and behavioural changes may be observed as early as late June, though there is always a chance that she could experience a pseudo-pregnancy,” says Ling Shan Shan, Head of Scientific Research and Animal Management at the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Wolong, Sichuan.
The gestation period for giant pandas lasts between 72 and 324 days and pregnancy confirmation can only be detected by ultrasound scan earliest 14 to 17 days before birth.
“During the three-day mating period, Ying Ying and Le Le were together for eight natural mating opportunities but all their attempts appeared unsuccessful. As female giant panda’s peak oestrous happen within 24 to 72 hours, artificial insemination on Ying Ying with Le Le’s semen were administered three times during this crucial window to help increase her chance of pregnancy in hope to contribute to thriving this vulnerable species. We will continue to closely monitor Ying Ying’s condition over the coming months and will update the public on the pair’s latest developments as information becomes available,” says Michael Boos, Executive Director in Zoological Operations and Conservation at Ocean Park.
“We have been working closely with Ocean Park’s animal care and veterinary team to determine the best timing for putting the two giant pandas together. We also arranged artificial insemination for Ying Ying to help increase her chance of pregnancy. If successful, signs of pregnancy, including fluctuations in hormonal levels and behavioural changes may be observed as early as late June, though there is always a chance that she could experience a pseudo-pregnancy,” says Ling Shan Shan, Head of Scientific Research and Animal Management at the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Wolong, Sichuan.
The gestation period for giant pandas lasts between 72 and 324 days and pregnancy confirmation can only be detected by ultrasound scan earliest 14 to 17 days before birth.
