Panda-mic Boon? Pandas That Zoo Was Trying To Mate For 10 Yrs, Finally Do It After Zoo Was Shut
Ocean Park in Hong Kong had been trying to get a couple of their pandas to mate for 10 whole years but nothing worked Until now that is Say hello to Ying Ying and Le Le the longtime residents of Ocean Park wholl become parents soon.
Animals around the world seem to be having a good time as humans stay under lockdown because of the COVID-19 outbreak. And if everyone's doing it, how could the naughty pandas stay away?
Apparently, Ocean Park in Hong Kong had been trying to get a couple of their pandas to mate for 10 whole years but nothing worked. Until now that is. Say hello to Ying Ying and Le Le, the longtime residents of Ocean Park, who'll become parents soon.
Ocean Park
Zoo officials on Monday revealed that after 10 years of attempts at natural mating, and ¡®through trial and learning,¡¯ the two have succeeded.
¡®The successful natural mating process today is extremely exciting for all of us, as the chance of pregnancy via natural mating is higher than by artificial insemination,¡¯ CNN quoted Michael Boos, executive director for zoological operations and conservation at Ocean Park, as saying in a press release.
Owing to coronavirus outbreak, like other tourist spots, the park has been closed to visitors since late January.
Meanwhile, staff noticed certain behaviour in the two giant pandas that's common during breeding season and occurs every year between the months of March and May.
Ocean Park says its resident giant pandas Ying Ying and Le Le have mated naturally for the first time since they started trying a decade ago.
¡ª Richard Pyne (@richardjpyne) April 6, 2020
Executive director Michael Boos says it¡¯s ¡°extremely exciting¡± as there¡¯s a higher chance of pregnancy.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Park pic.twitter.com/poQecMPuUB
¡®Since late March, Ying Ying began spending more time playing in the water, while Le Le has been leaving scent-markings around his habitat and searching the area for Ying Ying's scent,¡¯ a press release read.
Currently it is too early to tell whether a baby panda has been conceived, the staff is monitoring Ying Ying's body and behavioural changes for the same.
"If successful, signs of pregnancy, including hormonal level fluctuations and behavioural changes may be observed as early as late June, though there is always a chance that Ying Ying could experience a pseudo-pregnancy," Boos reportedly said.
The reason why its a big news is because the species is currently listed as 'vulnerable,' and that's one category away from being endangered, claims the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Ocean Park
According to Ocean Park, there are only about 1,800 giant pandas that remain in their natural habitat.
"We hope to bear wonderful pregnancy news to Hong Kongers this year and make further contributions to the conservation of this vulnerable species," Boos said.
If Ying Ying is found to be pregnant, the gestation period could be between 72 and 324 days.
