Ultrasound tests on Mei Xiang, the female giant panda at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, indicate she might be pregnant, officials said Wednesday.
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Based on the size of the fetus, about 4 centimeters, veterinarians estimated Mei Xiang could give birth early next week or in early September, though there is still “a substantial possibility” that she could resorb or miscarry the fetus.
The zoo has been monitoring Mei Xiang for much of the summer, and this is the first ultrasound that’s confirmed the presence of a fetus.
“Panda watch” continues after National Zoo officials say they believe the mother of almost 2-year-old giant panda Bao Bao is pregnant again.
Zoo director Dennis Kelly says he is “cautiously optimistic” about the pregnancy. This followed her spending more time on nest building and sleeping – all signs of a possible pregnancy, zoo officials said.
Scientists from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Instituteartificially inseminated Mei Xiang April 26 and 27, using semen collected from a giant panda named Hui Hui, who lives at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, China.
Though their numbers have rebounded somewhat over the past decade, giant pandas remain one of the world’s most endangered creatures.
DNA analysis, after birth, will determine who the father is. The panda team expects Mei Xiang to spend nearly all of her time in her den for the next several weeks.
Unlike in humans, where the egg is fertilized and the fetus starts to grow and can be measured, pregnancy isn’t so obvious in a panda, zoo officials said.
The zoo will track her current pregnancy on Instagram.
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If Mei does bear a cub this summer, that would mean there are two young pandas at the zoo at once, as Mei’s last cub, Bao Bao, is still here and approaching the ripe old age of 2. Tai Shan and Bao Bao were born as the result of artificial inseminations. She is scheduled to celebrate her birthday with a frozen treat at 10 a.m.in her outdoor yard.
