Mei Xiang is returning to a more species-typical estrus cycle
As the winter progresses, the National Zoo staff is becoming more and more optimistic that Mei Xiang is returning to a more species-typical estrus cycle. Giant panda females typically become fertile sometime between March and May, although Mei Xiang came into estrus in January for the past three breeding seasons.
Here is an update from January 13, 2012:
We are just now seeing her beginning to scent mark in her exhibit, and we will be watching closely for other tell-tale signs that she’s ready to breed, including bleating, restlessness, and water play.
Tian Tian is showing signs that he’s coming into rut, including patrolling his exhibit and scent marking. As Mei Xiang gets closer to peak estrus, these behaviors will escalate exponentially, and Tian Tian will be exploring every inch of his exhibit and scent marking everything in his path!
A new behavior study will start the week of January 15, and many behavior watch volunteers will be on hand to capture behavioral data about both Mei Xiang and Tian Tian on the web cameras. Web cam watchers may start to notice that the cameras will primarily follow one individual closely each day, alternating daily from one bear to the other – this is for data collection purposes.
The red panda sub-adults (they’re not cubs anymore!) Pili and Damini have stopped nursing and will soon be separated from their parents. Soon they will be moving back into their former indoor exhibit in the giant panda house. This will give their parents Shama and Tate some one-on-one time during red panda breeding season, and will once again give us two red panda exhibits—one outdoors and one indoors. Shama and Tate are most likely to be observed breeding in February, and building up to that visitors are likely to see an increase in playful chasing behavior.
We hope we will soon be hearing the pitter-patter of both giant panda and red panda cub paws in the summertime!
Source: National Zoo
