Panda put on diet to aid mating : Zoo hopes animals will produce a cub

Panda put on diet to aid mating : Zoo hopes animals will produce a cub.

CHIANG MAI

Chiang Mai Zoo is putting overweight male giant panda Xuang Xuang on a weight loss programme to ensure he keeps fit enough to mate with female Lin Hui. Prasertsak Buntrakulpoontawee, head of the zoo's panda research and exhibition section, said the giant panda, on loan from China along with his potential mate, currently weighs about 150kg, about 10kg more than average.

Mr Prasertsak said packing too much weight could inhibit the animal's reproduction capabilities.

Under the fat-burning course, Xuang Xuang will be put on a controlled diet of supplementary food such as bread loaves and bamboo leaves.

The panda will also be prompted to move around more in reaching for bits of food which will be placed in separate places around its living quarters.

Mr Prasertsak said there has been no sign of Lin Hui being ''on heat'' and ready to breed. Mating of the two star attractions, which should take place in the middle of the month, might be delayed until Feb or March, probably due to unfavourable weather conditions, he said.

Bangkok Post
Sunday January 14, 2007