National Zoo panda may be pregnant

WASHINGTON, April 1 (UPI) -- National Zoo officials in Washington said a female panda may be about 40 days from delivering a cub -- or she may be nearing the end of a false pregnancy.

National Zoo scientists said they detected a secondary rise in Mei Xiang's hormone levels, indicating the panda may be about 40 to 50 days from delivery, WRC-TV, Washington, reported Thursday.

However, they said she may also be in the midst of a false pregnancy, a common occurrence in giant pandas.

"We study the hormone levels, work from past data and monitor her behavior closely, but all signs can indicate she is pregnant when she is not," said Janine Brown, a National Zoo reproductive biologist. "So we remain hopeful, but cautious."

The scientists said they have been giving the 11-year-old panda weekly ultrasounds since her artificial insemination by 12-year-old Tian Tian Jan. 9-10. However, they said panda fetuses do not develop until the final weeks of pregnancy and it is still too early to detect if one is present in Mei Xiang.