Contact: John Gibbons
gibbonsjp@si.edu
202-391-4231
Smithsonian

National Zoo Giant Panda Artificial Insemination

Caption: National Zoo reproduction scientists Copper Aitken-Palmer, JoGayle Howard, and Pierre Comizzoli (foreground) and zoo veterinarian Carlos Sanchez were part of a large team of experts that performed an artificial insemination March 19 on Mei Xiang, the Zoo's female giant panda. National Zoo scientists performed the procedure after no successful matings took place between Mei Xiang and the Zoo's adult male Tian Tian. If the insemination is successful, the female panda is expected to give birth in the next 90 to 185 days.

Credit: Credit: Jessie Cohen / Smithsonian's National Zoo

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Related news release: 2008 giant panda mating season at National Zoo