WASHINGTON -- A Chinese veterinarian has performed an artificial insemination on the National Zoo's female giant panda, Mei Xiang (may-SHONG).
Animal keepers detected a rise in panda hormone levels and breeding behaviors this week. A team of scientists performed the artificial insemination Saturday morning after animal keepers determined there was no natural breeding overnight between Mei Xiang and male panda Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN).
Veterinarian Tang Chunxiang traveled from China's Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda to assist. The zoo says a second procedure will likely be performed later Saturday.
Mei Xiang delivered a cub last year, but the tiny female died six days later. Her only surviving offspring, Tai Shan (tie-SHON), was born in 2005.
The panda house has been closed since Tuesday but is set to reopen Sunday.
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Animal keepers detected a rise in panda hormone levels and breeding behaviors this week. A team of scientists performed the artificial insemination Saturday morning after animal keepers determined there was no natural breeding overnight between Mei Xiang and male panda Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN).
Veterinarian Tang Chunxiang traveled from China's Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda to assist. The zoo says a second procedure will likely be performed later Saturday.
Mei Xiang delivered a cub last year, but the tiny female died six days later. Her only surviving offspring, Tai Shan (tie-SHON), was born in 2005.
The panda house has been closed since Tuesday but is set to reopen Sunday.
Also on HuffPost:
"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });