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“Maiai” through the fence. Lee Lee on the left, Shin Shin = 1 day, at Ueno Zoo in Taito Ward (all photos provided by the Tokyo Zoo Society)
The Ueno Zoo (Taito Ward) explained the situation of the giant pandas, which announced on the 5th that signs of heat were observed the day before, at a press conference by Takashi Sugino, head of the Educational Promotion Division. Male Lee Lee and female Shin Shin (both 15 years old) revealed that they have been “paired” through the fence since February 24, and said they are determining when to “live together” for mating. .
Chief Sugino explained that the ecology of pandas is “basically to live alone, and if they are in a time when nothing is happening, they will not fight or cuddle.” Lee Lee and Shin Shin are generally raised on different farms.
The breeding season occurs once a year between February and May, and females are more likely to become pregnant for a few days. In response to Shinshin’s signs of heat, the garden began a “matchup” in which males and females felt and saw each other through the fence. They are said to go several times a day, about 30 minutes in the morning and in the afternoon.
As of day 5, the level of hormones in the urine, which is an index of estrus, is constantly increasing in Shinshin, but “the state of insufficient interest in men,” Sugino said. In the video of the day posted, Shinshin moves back and forth even if Lee Lee is near the fence.
In some years, even if hormone levels have risen and a “pairing” has occurred, they have not been able to live together. This time, she said physical changes similar to the time of pregnancy in 2017, when her daughter Xiang Xiang was born, are appearing, and Sugino hoped that “there is a high possibility of mating.”
Currently, the zoo is observing the behavior of seven keepers. Normally at this point, an expert from China is invited to respond while receiving advice, but due to the influence of the new coronavirus, it is not possible to come to Japan, and the membership exchange site (SNS) is used to inform the situation at any time.
Also, regarding how the situation that is not seen by visitors will affect estrus as the park continues to close due to the announcement of the state of emergency, Sugino said, “I can’t say anything, but the calm situation will not.” be negative. I think it works positively for animals. “(Yuko Nagatake)
