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Agence France-Presse

Mei Xiang, the female giant panda at the National Zoo in Washington, is pregnant and could give birth in the next few days, the zoo announced on Monday.
“Keep your paws crossed!” the US capital’s zoo said on its Twitter feed.
It said that veterinarians had detected a fetus during an ultrasound of the 22-year-old giant panda.
“Her fetus was kicking + swimming in the amniotic fluid, and its spine + blood flow were visible,” the zoo said. “We hope to have a healthy cub in the coming days!”

“In the middle of a pandemic, this is a joyful moment we can all get excited about,” Don Neiffer, the zoo’s chief veterinarian, said in a statement.
Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated on March 22 with frozen semen from the zoo’s male panda, Tian Tian.
Mei Xiang has given birth to three surviving cubs, all of which were sent to China under a cooperative breeding agreement with Beijing.
China lends pandas to zoos around the world – a programme dubbed “panda diplomacy”.
Chinese giant pandas stuck in Canada as bamboo supplies run low
Once young pandas reach the age of four, they are repatriated to breed with other pandas at sanctuaries in China.
The animals are considered “vulnerable” to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The National Zoo’s panda enclosure is currently closed to visitors, but 24-hour “panda cams” are in use to observe their behaviour.


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Pandas

Giant panda Mei Xiang pregnant and due within days, says US National Zoo

The National Zoo's giant panda Mei Ziang takes a nap in August 2015. Photo: AP

This Giant Panda ultrasound obtained August 17, 2020 courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Zoo shows what veterinarians at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo found in detected tissue consistent with fetal development during giant panda Mei Xiang’s ultrasound on August 14, 2020. - Zoo veterinarians on August 17, 2020 saw exciting movements during giant panda Mei Xiang’s ultrasound. Her fetus was kicking and swimming in the amniotic fluid, and its spine and blood flow were visible. (Photo by Handout / Smithsonian's National Zoo / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL ZOO/HANDOUT " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

First-ever giant panda cub born in South Korean zoo

A handout photo provided by Everland theme park in South Korea shows Ai Bao with her newborn panda cub. Photo: Handout / Everland

A handout photo provided by Everland theme park in South Korea shows Ai Bao and Le Bao's newborn panda cub. Photo: Handout / Everland

A handout photo provided by South Korea’s Everland theme park shows giant panda Ai Bao with her newborn cub. Photo: Handout / Everland

Giant pandas Ying Ying and Le Le mate for the first time at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park

Ying Ying and Le Le mated naturally for the first time in a decade at Ocean Park in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

In black and white: Berlin Zoo reveals twin panda cubs are boys called Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan

Meng Yuan and Meng Xiang appear at Berlin Zoo for the first time on their naming day. Photo: AP

Panda cubs Meng Yuan and Meng Xiang are seen during a news conference to announce their names at the Berlin Zoo in Berlin, Germany, December 9, 2019. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

News

World

United States & Canada


Chief vet declares joyful moment in middle of coronavirus pandemic
Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated in March with frozen semen from zoo’s male panda, Tian Tian



Chief vet declares joyful moment in middle of coronavirus pandemic.


Conservation

Animals

United States

Giant panda Mei Xiang pregnant and due within days, says US National Zoo

Chief vet declares joyful moment in middle of coronavirus pandemic Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated in March with frozen semen from zoo’s male panda, Tian Tian

Chief vet declares joyful moment in middle of coronavirus pandemic

Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated in March with frozen semen from zoo’s male panda, Tian Tian