***** NEWS FLASH *****

April 5: Mei Has Been Artificially Inseminated
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Zoo scientists and veterinarians have performed two artificial insemination's on Mei Xiang. The first procedure took place yesterday early evening, and the second occurred this morning. Mei was inseminated under general anesthesia with thawed semen from Gao Gao, a male giant panda residing at the San Diego Zoo.
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As described in detail in the March 27 update, genetic analysis by Zoo scientists showed that Gao Gao is more genetically valuable than Tian Tian. Mei also is genetically valuable. Breeding Gao Gao and Mei will increase the proportion of valuable genes in the captive population, thus contributing to future genetic diversity. more
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The Zoo's reproductive scientists have spent years perfecting artificial insemination techniques on giant pandas. Tai Shan was the result of an artificial insemination procedure conducted in mid-March 2005. This week's procedures mark the first time panda semen was shared between institutions in North America.
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Zoo staff will continue to monitor Mei’s hormone levels and conduct ultrasounds to determine pregnancy. Female giant pandas undergo pseudo pregnancies when they ovulate but fail to conceive. During a pseudo pregnancy, hormonal changes and behaviors are identical to a true pregnancy, which makes it very difficult to determine if a panda is pregnant. It could be three to six months before a cub would be born.
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Mothernature got this in an email from 'Friends of the National Zoo'. Her email to me had the subject "Keeping our fingers crossed".
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LET'S CROSS OUR FINGERS FOR ANOTHER TAI, WELL THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER TAI SHAN...BUT WE CAN HOPE TO HAVE A CUB JUST AS CUTE AND LOVED AND ENTERTAINING TO HIS MILLIONS OF EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS!
WATCHING HIM FOREVER PICKING ON HIS MAMA NO MATTER WHAT HIS SIZE....THE NAUGHTY BOY!! LOL ~ Mothernature
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Mothernature hasn't been able to see Tai lately through the National Zoo site, guess it's always at max capacity. But she has another addy for us to watch ~
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animal.discovery.com/cams/pandavidr.html
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I'll put this one over on the Zoo page as an alternate site for watching TAI.
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Here are some pictures of TAI, a trip down memory lane of sorts.

Dec. 4, 2005








Dec. 4, 2005


Dec. 10, 2005





Dec. 14, 2005

Jan. 9, 2007

Jan. 9, 2007

Jan. 11, 2007

Jan. 20, 2007

Feb. 11, 2007



Images courtesy of www.animal.discovery.com/cams/pandavidr.html and Mothernature

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Thanks for the update and alternate addy for Tai

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Until later HAPPY VIEWING !!