Suffering miscarriage of cub, Ying Ying would've been the first panda mum to give birth in Hong Kong
Ocean Park says Ying Ying's pregnancy is 'no longer viable' after signs of lifelessness seen and reabsorption of cub back into the body
It's gone …
Ocean Park said yesterday the foetus growing inside the womb of its resident giant panda, Ying Ying, was being reabsorbed into the animal's body and was no longer a viable pregnancy.
The park said ultrasound scans performed on Tuesday and yesterday showed the 3.5cm-long foetus no longer had a heartbeat, dashing hopes that it would be the first panda ever born in Hong Kong.
"The foetal structures were no longer distinct and were breaking down, thus confirming the pregnancy is no longer viable," said Dr Lee Foo Khong, a park vet.
Ying Ying had been carrying the foetus for 130 days as of yesterday, which falls within the range of time a giant panda is usually pregnant for, at 120 to 140 days. Pregnancies can be as short as 70 days or as long as 320 days.
The foetus had been recorded as normal and showing a clear structure in an ultrasound image taken on September 28, but signs of lifelessness were detected on Tuesday morning.