Contact: Pamela Baker-Masson
202-633-3084
Smithsonian

Giant panda Ultrasound (2 of 2)

Caption: National Zoo veterinarian Carlos Sanchez performs an ultrasound on giant panda Mei Xiang on May 7, 2008, at the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat. Zoo veterinarians conduct weekly ultrasounds on Mei Xiang to monitor any changes in her reproductive tract and look for evidence of a fetus. So far, the ultrasounds have not shown evidence of one. Because panda fetuses do not start developing until the last weeks of a gestation period, Zoo veterinarians say they do not yet expect to see a fetus.

Credit: Jessie Cohen/Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Usage Restrictions: None

Related news release: National Zoo giant panda pregnancy update