Panda's Mating Leaves Nothing To Chance
Scientists Artificially Inseminate National Zoo's Mei Xiang In Effort To Help Her Produce A Cub
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Play CBS Video Video Helping Pandas Mate Pandas aren't efficient breeders, so scientists are trying to lend a hand. Thalia Assuras reports on their efforts with a female panda at Washington's National Zoo.
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Video Expert On Panda Reproduction Only On The Web: JoGayle Howard, a reproduction scientist, tells Thalia Assuras that artificial insemination ensures genetic diversity among pandas, in addition to helping them reproduce.
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Video Panda's 1st Birthday WUSA's Jennifer Ryan reports on giant panda Tai Shan's first birthday at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
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The National Zoo's Mei Xiang plays. She's been artificially imseminated in hopes of producing another cub. (CBS)
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Tai Shan, right, and his mother Mei Xiang, take a close look at a frozen treat that was made for him on his first birthday, July 9, 2006, in the outdoor panda exhibit at the National Zoo in Washington. (AP Photo)
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The National Zoo's Mei Xiang eats bamboo, Jan 11, 2001. (AP)
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Photo Essay Tai Shan At 1 The National Zoo's baby panda is growing up fast.
"The timing is the most critical challenge," says Dr. JoGayle Howard, a reproduction scientist.
Pandas are notoriously ineffective breeders, so zookeepers leave nothing to chance. CBS News got unprecedented access as the team tried to pinpoint Mei's perfect moment for mating. They bribed the bear with food so they could examine her, and measured hormone levels in her urine.
It's the first time Mei's ovulating since giving birth to her only cub in 2005. Back then, papa bear was the National Zoo's Tien Tien. In the panda world, his genes are quite common, not a good thing when the species is endangered. The goal is to find new blood to prevent inbreeding.
"The problem with inbreeding is that bad genes may rise to the top," Howard says.Reporter's Notebook: Springtime In Air For Mei
Only On The Web: More On Panda Reproduction
The new man in Mei's life is super stud Gao Gao of the San Diego Zoo.
"He's got great sperm," Howard explains. Gao was captured in the wild, brining new and unique DNA to the worldwide panda-breeding program. That means his DNA, paired with Mei's, will increase the panda gene pool — helping ensure that the bears don't become extinct.
"One breeding is a big deal, and it does change the genetics and the dynamics of the population," Howard says.
But the cross-country romance has been complicated — and not at all romantic. The two pandas won't even meet. The deed is done by artificial insemination, using the precious cargo carried from California in a metal can.
Finally, overnight, it was time. The sperm and egg were brought together, and the romance was consummated.
Did it take? Possibly, but it will take up to five months to find out.
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