Panda attraction closed at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park as Ying Ying tries for another baby
With female giant panda entering sixth mating season, park hopes she will breed successfully with male panda Le Le
Female giant panda Ying Ying is getting to make another baby after losing her first in a miscarriage last year.
Giant Panda Adventure, Ying Ying’s Hong Kong home in Ocean Park, will be temporarily closed from Tuesday, to minimise noise and disturbances during her mating attempts.
While the father was unknown in Ying Ying’s previous pregnancy, her intended partner this time is Le Le, the male giant panda who moved to Ocean Park with her in 2007.
Suffering miscarriage of cub, Ying Ying would’ve been the first panda mum to give birth in Hong Kong
Ocean Park announced that Ying Ying, 10, was confirmed to be entering her sixth mating season, displaying oestrous behaviours over the past few weeks such as water play, vocalisations and restlessness.
Le Le’s increased frequency of sniffing Ying Ying’s “scent posts” – objects that had been marked with her scent – further confirmed that peak oestrus of the two giant pandas was approaching, the park said.
“We are hopeful that they would mate successfully,” said Suzanne Gendron, executive director of zoological operations and education at the park.
Gendron added that the park had been providing hind leg training for Le Le to strengthen his leg muscles. Ying Ying’s natural mating experience in Sichuan last season was also an advantage, she added.