http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/love-is-in-the-air-for/2629400.html
Love is in the air for giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia
When both bears are ready, they will be taken out of their respective exhibits for three days to allow natural mating in the dens. During this time, visitors to River Safari will not be able to see Kai Kai and Jia Jia in the Giant Panda Forest.
Posted 23 Mar 2016 16:42 Updated 24 Mar 2016 00:35
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SINGAPORE: With the approach of the annual panda mating season, the River Safari's giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia are gearing up for their second shot at having an offspring.
In a media release on Wednesday (Mar 23), WRS said both Kai Kai and Jia Jia showed early signs that breeding season was about to start from January, even though the typical giant panda mating season lasts from February to May.
In light of this, the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) added that in coming weeks, visitors may see male panda Kai Kai bleating in his exhibit and scent-marking more frequently.
"He may also display the flehmen response, a behaviour whereby an animal curls back its upper lip to sniff for pheromones to assess the breeding readiness of its mate," WRS said.
Giant panda Kai Kai. (Photo: Wildlife Reserves Singapore)
It also said female panda Jia Jia will display restless behaviour and bleating to attract the attention of her mate when mating season arrives.
Both pandas entered mating season for the first time last April, but both natural mating and artificial insemination proved unsuccessful. In July, Jia Jia was seen eating less bamboo, sleeping more and had increased hormone levels - all signs of a pregnancy. However, she turned out to be not expecting.
WRS said its vets and keepers have learned from the experience and this time employed techniques proven to be successful in other zoos for the upcoming mating season. These include getting Kai Kai to perform "sexercise" in his den.
"Panda keepers get Kai Kai to stand up on his hind legs for a few seconds at a time to strengthen his hind quarters. The exercise also serves to improve his stamina which would help to improve success rates during mating," WRS said.
Other techniques include getting Kai Kai and Jia Jia to swap exhibits and dens, as smelling the scent of another gender stimulates their mating instincts and encourages hormonal changes, WRS said.
Female panda Jia Jia asleep in her den. (Photo: Wildlife Reserves Singapore)
WRS added that vets and keepers are observing the behaviour of both pandas, as well as monitoring Jia Jia's hormonal levels. Once both bears are deemed ready, the pandas will be taken out of their respective exhibits for three days to allow natural mating in the dens. During this time, those who visit the River Safari will not be able to see Kai Kai and Jia Jia in the Giant Panda Forest, WRS said.
Vets have also collected Kai Kai's semen for artificial insemination to increase the chances of breeding, should natural mating be unsuccessful, WRS said.
- CNA/dl
Love is in the air for giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia
When both bears are ready, they will be taken out of their respective exhibits for three days to allow natural mating in the dens. During this time, visitors to River Safari will not be able to see Kai Kai and Jia Jia in the Giant Panda Forest.
Posted 23 Mar 2016 16:42 Updated 24 Mar 2016 00:35
VIDEOS
PHOTOS
Please enable Javascript to watch this video
Email More
A A
SINGAPORE: With the approach of the annual panda mating season, the River Safari's giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia are gearing up for their second shot at having an offspring.
In a media release on Wednesday (Mar 23), WRS said both Kai Kai and Jia Jia showed early signs that breeding season was about to start from January, even though the typical giant panda mating season lasts from February to May.
In light of this, the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) added that in coming weeks, visitors may see male panda Kai Kai bleating in his exhibit and scent-marking more frequently.
"He may also display the flehmen response, a behaviour whereby an animal curls back its upper lip to sniff for pheromones to assess the breeding readiness of its mate," WRS said.
Giant panda Kai Kai. (Photo: Wildlife Reserves Singapore)
It also said female panda Jia Jia will display restless behaviour and bleating to attract the attention of her mate when mating season arrives.
Both pandas entered mating season for the first time last April, but both natural mating and artificial insemination proved unsuccessful. In July, Jia Jia was seen eating less bamboo, sleeping more and had increased hormone levels - all signs of a pregnancy. However, she turned out to be not expecting.
WRS said its vets and keepers have learned from the experience and this time employed techniques proven to be successful in other zoos for the upcoming mating season. These include getting Kai Kai to perform "sexercise" in his den.
"Panda keepers get Kai Kai to stand up on his hind legs for a few seconds at a time to strengthen his hind quarters. The exercise also serves to improve his stamina which would help to improve success rates during mating," WRS said.
Other techniques include getting Kai Kai and Jia Jia to swap exhibits and dens, as smelling the scent of another gender stimulates their mating instincts and encourages hormonal changes, WRS said.
Female panda Jia Jia asleep in her den. (Photo: Wildlife Reserves Singapore)
WRS added that vets and keepers are observing the behaviour of both pandas, as well as monitoring Jia Jia's hormonal levels. Once both bears are deemed ready, the pandas will be taken out of their respective exhibits for three days to allow natural mating in the dens. During this time, those who visit the River Safari will not be able to see Kai Kai and Jia Jia in the Giant Panda Forest, WRS said.
Vets have also collected Kai Kai's semen for artificial insemination to increase the chances of breeding, should natural mating be unsuccessful, WRS said.
- CNA/dl
