Panda Pregnancy Watch: Could Bao Bao Get a Sibling?

Could Bao Bao soon get a new sibling?

The Giant Panda keepers at the Smithsonian National Zoo performed two artificial inseminations on Bao Bao’s mom, Mei Ziang (may-SHONG), within the last 24 hours, one on Sunday and one Monday morning.

For the first time this year, scientists used semen collected from a giant panda living at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, China, according to a news release from the zoo. The chosen male panda, Hui Hui (h-WEI h-WEI), was determined to be one of the best genetic matches for Mei Xiang.

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Although the Zoo’s male panda Tian Tian (t-YEN t-YEN) is not as genetically valuable as Mei Xiang, he is still important to the panda population, according to the zoo. Scientists also used high-quality fresh semen collected from Tian Tian for the artificial inseminations, zoo officials noted. The first procedure used a combination of sperm from Hui Hui and Tian Tian. The second procedure also used thawed sperm from Hui Hui and sperm refrigerated overnight from Tian Tian. If Mei Xiang gives birth, scientists will use a DNA test to determine which male sired the cub, the news release stated.

Mei Xiang was put under general anesthesia for the non-surgical artificial insemination(s). Each procedure took about an hour. The Zoo live-streamed portions of the first procedure on Twitter using Perioscope and live-posted to Instagram using #PandaStory

Meanwhile, the zoo began separating Bao Bao, 18 months, and her mom last month, just as wild Pandas would do.

Now it’s a wait and see game to see whether Bao Bao will get a little brother or sister. Zoo officials will first have to see if Mei Xiang becomes pregnant; if successful, they say Giant Panda pregnancies last anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

PHOTO of Mei Xiang courtesy of National Zoo