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Elizabeth Cheung

Emily Tsang

The birth of a baby panda in Hong Kong is still possible even if it is difficult to predict, Ocean Park experts said yesterday.
Among 330 pandas in captivity globally, about 10 to 20 births are recorded every year after scientists' repeated use of different artificial methods to impregnate the endangered species.
READ MORE: Yin Ying suffers miscarriage of first baby panda to have been born in Hong Kong
Despite Ying Ying's lost foetus, park experts remained hopeful that the panda would still be physically fit to breed in future.

"In general, pandas can breed until they're 18 years old," said Howard Chuk Hau-chung, the park's senior curator for terrestrial life sciences. For the 10-year-old Ying Ying, that means she has eight more years to try her luck.
Chuk said Ying Ying joined the national panda breeding scheme early this year to boost her chances of mating, but breeding goals for the scheme next year have not yet been discussed.
Experts meet annually in November to discuss panda-breeding techniques. Ying Ying's experience is likely to be examined.
Dr Wang Chengdong of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda said he is "very confident" about Ying Ying's future pregnancy prospects and believes she will "recover soon".
Experts on the mainland began their attempts to breed pandas in captivity in 1955, but failed until 1963 when Ming Ming was born in a Beijing zoo.
Captivity breedings are essential to the survival of the animal, which has a dangerously low birth rate, according to Pandas International, a non-profit organisation that helps protect the endangered species.


Ocean Park 'very confident' Ying Ying could give birth to a panda cub in future

An Observation camera shows giant panda Ying Ying on the screen in Ocean Park. Photo: David Wong

Panda Ying Ying eats in a back-of-house area at Ocean Park in Hong Kong on October 7. Photo: AFP

Ying Ying was temporarily relocated to Sichuan in February 2015 for her first-ever participation in the National Giant Panda Breeding Programme. During her stay in Sichuan, she attempted mating with two male pandas for a total of five times and eventually mated once. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Dr. Lee Foo Khong (left) and Dr Wang Chengdong at the press conference on giant panda Ying Ying's lastest condition. Photo: David Wong

Suffering miscarriage of cub, Ying Ying would've been the first panda mum to give birth in Hong Kong

Ocean Park vet Dr Lee Foo Khong speaks to the media about the ultrasound checks on giant panda Ying Ying. Photo: David Wong

Ying Ying the panda getting an ultrasound check during her pregnancy at Ocean Park in Hong Kong. Photo: AFP

Ying Ying the panda getting an ultrasound check during her pregnancy at Ocean Park in Hong Kong. AFP

The ultrasound checks on September 28 (left) and October 7 (right).

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