If being quarantined during the coronavirus pandemic has you feeling a little horny, you’re not alone.
Two giant pandas at a Hong Kong zoo mated successfully on Monday for the first time in almost 10 years together at the park.
Staff at the Ocean Park theme park and zoo announced female Ying Ying and male Le Le, both 14, finally sealed the deal around 9 a.m. local time after showing signs that they had entered their hormonal estrous cycle, or mating cycle, in late March.
Giant pandas are notoriously bad at breeding, at least in captivity, so news of the bonking bears had staff thrilled.
“Since Ying Ying and Le Le’s arrival in Hong Kong in 2007 and attempts at natural mating since 2010, they unfortunately have yet to succeed until this year upon years of trial and learning,” said Michael Boos, executive director of zoological operation and conservation. “The successful natural mating process today is extremely exciting for all of us, as the chance of pregnancy via natural mating is higher than by artificial insemination.”
Images released by the park, which has been empty of visitors since Jan. 26 due to the coronavirus outbreak, show the black-and-white beaus embracing and doing the deed.
“If successful, signs of pregnancy, including hormonal level fluctuations and behavioral changes may be observed as early as late June, though there is always a chance that Ying Ying could experience a pseudo-pregnancy,” said Boos.
“We hope to bear wonderful pregnancy news to Hong Kongers this year,” he added, “and make further contributions to the conservation of this vulnerable species.”
According to the zoo, a panda’s gestation period ranges between 72–324 days, but the pregnancy can only be detected by an ultrasound about two weeks before birth.
Panda numbers are slowly increasing in the wild. In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature shifted giant pandas from the endangered category to being listed as vulnerable due to a 17% rise in the number of pandas between 2004 and 2014.
Source: Buzzfeed