CHIANG MAI ZOO / NATURE GETS A HELPING HAND

Sex-starved panda is artificially inseminated

CHEEWIN SATTHA

Chiang Mai _ Chiang Mai Zoo yesterday performed the first round of artificial insemination on giant panda Lin Hui.

The procedure got under way after she and her male companion, Xuang Xuang, failed to have sex at the weekend despite zookeepers' best efforts to create a romantic mood.

Zoo director Sopon Damnui said Lin Hui's oestrogen levels, her behaviour and other medical checks had led veterinarians to judge her reproductively mature.

However, Xuang Xuang has shown no interest in mating.

International specialists in panda breeding decided to begin artificial insemination now because Lin Hui is ovulating. Pandas generally mate between mid-March and mid-May.

Veterinarians yesterday separated the pandas and gave an anaesthetic to Xuang Xuang at around 10am.

They then collected 1.4cc of semen from him, dividing it into several portions to be used to inseminate Lin Hui yesterday and today, and to be frozen for use again next year.

The first injection of semen into Lin Hui was performed at about 1pm.

Prasertsak Boontrakulboonthawee, chief of the panda research project, said it went smoothly.
After the second round today, Lin Hui will be put under separate care, going for an ultrasound in about three months to check whether the artificial insemination was a success.

The gestation period for pandas is about six months.

Mr Sopon said he was 80% sure it would be a success. If it is, Lin Hui will give birth to the first panda cub in Thailand.

Bangkok Post
Tuesday April 03, 2007