THAILAND: A female panda at Thailand's Chiang Mai Zoo shows signs that artificial insemination might have succeeded

After numerous attempts to fire passion between male panda Chuang Chuang and his mate Lin Hui, Thailand is crossing its fingers that a cub is on the way. Lin Hui, 5, was artificially inseminated earlier this month after her partner, six-year-old Chuang Chuang, failed to mate with her despite being encouraged with videos of pandas copulating. Two weeks on, her progesterone levels are rising, indicating a possible pregnancy. The female resident of the Chiang Mai Zoo, 700 kilometres (435 miles) north of Bangkok, is being familiarised with ultrasound machines before a full confirmation of her pregnancy can be made by ultrasound in August. The couple's sex life has become a matter of public concern, with panda lovers eager for a cub. "After the artificial insemination the hormone level rose. The Chinese experts say there's a sixty percent chance that she's pregnant," said Chiang Mai Zoo vet Kannikar Nimtragul. Lin Hui and Chuang Chuang are a major draw at the zoo and were officially "married" two years ago. But they have shown little inclination to consummate their union despite being kept in separate enclosures since December in the hope it would make them lust after each other. Chinese panda expert Tang Chunxiang, who was sent to advise Thai zoo officials on Panda mating, suggested that the couple be put on a diet which cut down snacks and bamboo shoots. "Chuang Chuang needs to exercise his hips so he can mate if the artificial insemination fails," said Tang Chunxiang from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda. China used the "panda porn" video technique with its pandas and succeeded in producing a cub. The Chiang Mai pair, lent to Thailand by China, were also shown a ten-minute "panda porn" video to encourage the male to mate but he failed to perform. According to zoo officials Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui are healthy and ready to mate. Their breeding period only lasts 60 hours a year and is usually in April or May. The couple will be returned to their hometown in China in 2013.

ITN Source | April 21, 2007

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