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Smithsonian

Giant Panda Artificial Insemination

Caption: National Zoo Reproductive Scientists Copper Aitken-Palmer (L), JoGayle Howard and Pierre Comizzoli perform an artificial insemination on giant panda Mei Xiang on March 19 at the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat. She and the Zoo's male panda, Tian Tian were brought together on March 18 to allow the two to mate naturally. After keeping the two pandas together throughout the day, staff at the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat determined that natural mating was unsuccessful. Zoo scientists then decided to perform an artificial insemination.

Credit: Jessie Cohen/Smithsonian’s National Zoo

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Related news release: National Zoo giant panda pregnancy update