Panda lady at Berlin Zoo is pregnant again
In 2019, there's a small sensation at the Berlin Zoo: A panda lady gives birth to twins. Ultrasound images now show that Meng Meng is expecting again. However, a vet warns against premature euphoria.
The Berlin Zoo is expecting more panda offspring. "The babies are about 2.5 centimeters big and need to grow a bit more before birth," said Thomas Hildebrandt, head of the department for reproduction management at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, according to a press release. There was a small celebration in the Panda Garden on Sunday, the zoo announced.
The panda lady had been quite uncooperative lately. "Despite showing signs of pregnancy," Meng Meng was persuaded to stand up and accept the cool ultrasound gel and the ultrasound probe, said the veterinarian, an international expert in giant panda reproduction. "An upright examination finally brought the happy news that Meng Meng is pregnant with two cubs."
The team was thrilled, as there had been several unsuccessful ultrasound attempts before, said vet Franziska Sutter, who was also involved in the examination. "While we're excited, we must remember that this is a very early stage of pregnancy and a so-called resorption - or abortion - of the embryo is still possible at this point," said Sutter. The gestation period for giant pandas is usually three to six months.
The development will be monitored with ultrasound examinations and hormone analysis. "We hope everything goes as well as it did last time in 2019." Back then, the first panda birth in a German zoo was a sensation: the twins, former crowd-pleasers Pit and Paule, are no longer in Berlin.
"Baby, please be healthy and grow safely in your mother's womb," the veterinary team collectively whispered, filled with anxiety and hope. "Despite the positive ultrasound results, we urge calmness, Baby, as premature euphoria could lead to unnecessary stress for you and your mother, Baby," urged the head vet.
