Pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia mate for the first time -- for 40
minutes
River Safari's giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia have officially
entered their first mating season, said Wildlife Reserves Singapore
(WRS) in a statement on Tuesday, April 21.
This was a cause for jubilation for River Safari's caretakers as
the critically endangered bears are notoriously difficult to
breed.
Keepers and vets at River Safari have employed a number of
measures since last November to trigger the breeding cycle of the
pandas. They have tried methods like varying the daylight hours and
temperature in the panda exhibit to simulate the transition from
winter to spring just like how it is in their homeland Sichuan,
China.
Kai Kai and Jia Jia did respond as they showed the first signs
of coming into estrus on April 5.
Both pandas were brought together for the first time in their
dens on Friday, April 17, for natural mating. However, the
40-minute session was unsuccessful. WRS said it is typical for
first-time breeders to encounter this as they may not know how to
mate.
Dr Serena Oh, WRS Assistant Director of Veterinary Services,
said: "Panda reproduction is a notoriously complex process, with
females ovulating once a year, in which they are fertile for only
24 to 36 hours.
"Jia Jia's hormones started falling on Friday and we needed to
move quickly to artificial insemination due to the short window
when female pandas are able to conceive."
She added that WRS will continue to monitor Jia Jia's hormone
levels and conduct ultrasounds to determine if she is pregnant.
The gestation period for a panda is typically five months, and
one or two cubs are usually born.
Pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia have attempted to mate for the first
time, said the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) on Tuesday. The
company, which manages River Safari and other wildlife attractions
here, released a collage of 20 photos showing the pandas'
attempt.
Although the 40-minute session on April 17 did not appear to be
successful - which is typical for first-time breeders as they may
not know how to mate - it was still a cause for jubilation for
caretakers at River Safari as the critically endangered bears are
notoriously difficult to breed.