4-D ultrasound images of a giant panda fetus
Lun Lun’s third cub already has a head start on breaking records – even in advance of his or her birth. Zoo Atlanta has become the first zoological institution in the United States ever to observe 4-D ultrasound images of a giant panda fetus.
On October 28, Preferred Medical Systems, LLC loaned the Zoo Atlanta Animal Care and Veterinary Teams a GE ultrasound machine capable of capturing a level of detail never before observed for unborn giant pandas. The images include 4-D images, or 3-D images that can be rotated in space, of the cub moving in Lun Lun’s womb.
The fetus, which was 7.9 centimeters long on October 28, continues to display rapid growth and a strong regular heartbeat. The Veterinary Team now estimates that a birth should take place within a week. Round-the-clock birth watch began on October
18. The third offspring of Lun Lun and 13-year-old Yang Yang, the cub will be the only giant panda born in the U.S. in 2010. While current information points to an impending birth, experts caution that Lun Lun could still miscarry or reabsorb the fetus, even at this advanced stage of pregnancy.
Fans are encouraged to stay abreast of all things panda by following Zoo Atlanta on zooatlanta.org and on Twitter, joining the Zoo Atlanta Facebook community, and registering for biweekly eUpdate newsletters.
Source: http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/487220
