Chinese giant pandas Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui play together in their enclosure at the Chiang Mai Zoo in 2005. Photo: AFP/ Pornchai Kittiwongsakul
Giant pandas are big business, so today’s news must be a little embarrassing. Not to mention how mama bear must feel.
Doctors tending to giant panda Lin Hui at the Chiang Mai zoo now say they aren’t sure she’ll give birth, days after announcing the imminent arrival of a new lump of baby fur.
“There is a 50-50 chance Lin Hui will give birth,” chief vet Boripat Siriaroonrat said.
Doubts arose yesterday after the lactating panda showed several signs which caused veterinarians to question whether she will give birth.
Ultrasound and hormone tests would be conducted to confirm the pregnancy, according to Boripat.
In some cases, giant pandas who test positive for an embryo do not always give birth.
Since Lin Hui was acting differently than the team had expected, they could not be positive that she would give birth to a cub.
Lin Hui underwent artificial insemination in September and her pregnancy was announced with great fanfare last month, leading the zoo to install 24-hour cameras to monitor her condition and prepare a nursery facility, The Nation reported.
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