Calgary Zoo begins panda breeding program

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — One of the giant pandas at the Calgary Zoo may be expecting cubs, if all goes well over the next few weeks.

Zoo staff, veterinary teams and a panda reproductive specialist from China are working together to try and get the adult female panda, Er Shun, pregnant.

It won’t be a very romantic process, however, as they will be monitoring Er Shun’s hormone levels and then using artificial insemination.

Captive breeding is not always successful, so the staff want to ensure they have the best possible opportunity to inseminate Er Shun.

In the event Er Shun does become pregnant, the zoo is already prepared as the new Panda Passage habitat also includes a space for a nursing den.

There are four giant pandas at the zoo, and for every year they are in the city, the Calgary Zoo is contributing $1.4 million to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China to support conservation efforts including breeding and protecting habitats.

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