| cubwatch 2007 |
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[From two different sources, here is some
information that is difficult to reconcile...It appears two more cubs were born in China that were not included in
the Pandas International update, and two more may have died.]
Thirty one giant pandas were born in captivity in China this year, and 25 survived, down from last year's figures...Of the 25 alive and well this year, 16 are living at the China Giant Panda Research Center in Wolong...and eight live at a research and breeding base in Chengdu.... Number of pandas successfully bred in China down from last year
China has seen 29 giant panda births in captivity in 17 deliveries so far this year, including 12 sets of twins, and 25 have survived. The last birth, a set of twins with only one surviving, was September 28 at Wolong. One female at Chengdu experienced a late estrus in July, so there could be one more delivery this year. Pandas International Newsletter
Vienna Zoo (Tiergarten Schoenbrunn) August 23: A cub was born to Yang Yang at the Vienna Zoo. The cub was one of a set of twins, but the second cub was found dead while monitoring Yang Yang through a surveillance camera. The cub is the first born in Europe in 25 years, and the first that is the product of natural mating. The cub was born 127 days after seven-year-old Yang Yang mated with six-year-old Long Hui, the zoo's male panda. Zookeepers were surprised by the birth, as an August 6 ultrasound had shown no signs of pregnancy. The cub, a male, has been named Fu Long. Vienna Zoo: The Panda Baby Diary (in English)
August 3: A cub was born to Bai Yun at the San Diego Zoo at 1:31 pm local time, following a 2.5-hour labor. Zoo officials announced the cub appears healthy, and Bai Yun, as an experienced mother, has already left the cub alone a handful of times to get a drink of water. The cub’s sex was announced in September as female. She will be named on November 26, following the Chinese custom of waiting at least 100 days before naming. The cub’s father is Gao Gao, a 15-year old male panda who has also sired two other offspring, Mei Sheng and Su Lin. The pregnancy was the result of natural mating between Gao Gao and Bai Yun.
On July 9, Zoo scientists confirmed that Mei Xiang is not pregnant this year. Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated on April 4 and 5 with sperm from Gao Gao, the San Diego male panda who has now sired three cubs, including the latest born to Bai Yun on August 3. Mei Xiang experienced a pseudo-, or false, pregnancy, her fourth, with one cub, Tai Shan, born in July 2005. The zoo staff expects Mei Xiang to quickly resume normal behavior and hormone levels, including an increase in appetite and activity level. Zoo scientists will determine later whether Mei Xiang should be considered for breeding next year. 2007 Pregnancy Watch Ends Without Cub
On June 13, the Memphis Zoo announced that adult female Ya Ya had suffered a miscarriage. On May 23, the Zoo had announced that a pregnancy had been detected through ultrasound, which zoo officials believed to have been the earliest detection of pregnancy during panda gestation. Ya Ya had been artificially inseminated with sperm from the Zoo’s adult male, Le Le, after several unsuccessful attempts at natural breeding, on January 14, 2007. Zoo officials plan to make another pregnancy attempt next year. Memphis Zoo's Giant Panda Pregnancy to End in Miscarriage
Zoo Atlanta's cub, Mei Lan, was born on September 6, 2006, and recently celebrated her first birthday. Her mother, Lun Lun, could not become pregnant this year while Mei Lan continues to nurse, but could become pregnant next year after Mei Lan is weaned (typically around 18 months of age). Mei Lan was the product of artificial insemination; her father is Zoo Atlanta's adult male Yang Yang.
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 18 November 2007 ) | ||||