Giant pandas Ying Ying and Le Le mate for the first time at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park
- The black-and-white pandas mate at the age of 14 on Monday after years of repeated failure and a miscarriage
- Signs of pregnancy, including hormonal fluctuations and behavioural changes, may be observed in Ying Ying earliest in late June
Two giant pandas at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park have moved a step closer to breeding, after successfully mating for the first time on Monday.
After repeated failures and a miscarriage in the past 10 years, Ying Ying and Le Le made the attempt during the ongoing mating season, between March and May, the park said.
The behaviour of the two 14-year-olds is seen as a breakthrough, as male and female giant pandas become sexually mature at the age of seven and five years respectively.
Signs of pregnancy, if any, are expected to be observed at the earliest in late June.
“Since Ying Ying and Le Le’s arrival in Hong Kong in 2007 and attempts at natural mating since 2010, they unfortunately have yet to succeed until this year despite years of trial and learning,” Michael Boos, executive director of the park’s zoological operations and conservation, said.