Is Mei Xiang pregnant or isn't she?
The National Zoo launched a Panda Pregnancy Update:
We are waiting and hoping to hear the pitter-patter of little panda paws in the coming weeks. It is still too early to determine whether or not Mei Xiang is pregnant, but we hopefully make preparations in case she is.
Mei Xiang has begun her secondary progesterone rise, an indicator that the pregnancy or pseudo pregnancy will end in the next several weeks. Staff and behavior watch volunteers are carefully looking for every little behavior sign to coincide with the hormonal data—nest building, decreased appetite and energy, cradling objects—which will give us a more accurate timeline of when to expect the birth or the end of pseudo pregnancy. The veterinarians are conducting ultrasounds twice a week, hoping to catch a glimpse of a cub. Right now we are in a wait-and-see mode.
The million-dollar question around the panda house continues to be “Is she or isn’t she?” Panda house staff and volunteers are not being evasive with our standard “I don’t know” answer—it truly is too early to know for sure. In the meantime, we can all cross our fingers in hopes of a new little bundle of panda joy in early summer.
Source: National Zoo
