National Zoo's Adorable Pandas About To Make A Baby: Report

WASHINGTON, DC — Two pandas at the National Zoo in D.C. may be getting ready to make a baby, the zoo announced recently. The signs are all there, and voyeuristic zoo staff will be carefully monitoring their activities via video cameras trained on their habitat.

Keepers at the zoo have noticed "dramatic changes" in the way Mei Xiang and Tian Tian have been behaving in recent days, according to a statement from the zoo.

They noticed that Mei Xiang, the 19-year-old female, moaned at Tian Tian, the 19-year-old male. The vocalization meant that Mei Xiang, who has already given birth to three pandas, was not quite ready to being mating but that she was getting close.

Mei Xiang showed other unusual behaviors, like sleeping in, ignoring her breakfast, and conducting "scent-marking" activities in the yard.

When Mei Xiang reaches "peak estrus," she will have a 24 to 72 hour window when she can conceive.

As far as Tian Tian, the male panda was unable to take his eyes off of Mei Xiang, the zoo said, even going so far as to bring his toys and food to the window so he could watch Mei Xiang.

"As the breeding season moves closer, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian will be on the panda cams more frequently," the zoo said. "Our specially-trained volunteer behavior watchers, who operate the cams, will be collecting behavioral data on them to help the panda team. Viewers may have already noticed that Mei Xiang and Tian Tian have started vocalizing to each other overnight. During the next few weeks, these behaviors will likely increase in frequency and intensity."

Image of Mei Xiang via National Zoo