Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

National Zoo giant panda not pregnant

|
|
 
  
Giant panda cub Mei Lan, 128 days old, walks through bamboo shoots in her habitat during her public debut at Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta on January 12, 2007. Mei Lan was born September 6, 2006. (UPI Photo/John Dickerson) 
Published: May 20, 2009 at 1:35 PM

WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- The Smithsonian National Zoological Park says Mei Xiang, a giant panda at the Washington zoo, is not pregnant.

Scientists at the park, commonly known as the National Zoo, conducted tests on the female panda to determine if she was pregnant, but the animal's declined urinary progesterone indicated the end of a false pregnancy, The Washington Post said Wednesday.

Zoo researchers confirmed the diagnosis through ultrasound exams Tuesday that revealed no visible fetuses in Mei Xiang.

The false pregnancy comes after the 250-pound giant panda was artificially inseminated on Jan. 17. Giant pandas are endangered worldwide with more than 200 currently in captivity and nearly 1,600 free in the wild.

The Post said while Mei Xiang had been exhibiting certain unspecified behaviors typically associated with prenatal activity, zoo officials remained cautious up through the confirmation of the false pregnancy. The false pregnancy was the third for Mei Xiang in as many years.

Topics: Mei Xiang
Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 21
President Obama Signs Smuggling Prevention Act at White House
View Caption
fark
It's starting to look as if the roles are now reversed - that Obama is Lucy with the football, and...
You're a female air traveler and there's no female TSA agent to screen you? No problem, there's...
Despite their efforts to convince you otherwise, many "foodies" can't, in a blind taste test, tell...
Photoshop this urban underground dweller
Kim Jong Un Dead. I repeat - Un Dead
Nothing is more romantic on Valentine's Day than taking your lover on a tour of New York's sewers...