It's been years since the "panda watch" occupied the news all the time around here, so it was fun to check the Post home page this morning and find out that Mei Xiang had a baby! From what I read, it's extremely difficult for pandas to conceive. The female is fertile three days a YEAR. Hence, no market for panda condoms. And lots of frustrated boy pandas, because she wants nothing to do with him for another 362 days. "I said back on up, Tian Tian. Do you HEAR me? Do not even THINK of coming near THIS panda bear. Go on back to your bamboo pile and that silly TIRE. Back it on UP." Haha. Turns out Mei Xiang (say that three times fast) was artificially inseminated, and then they couldn't even tell if she was pregnant for sure, because false positive pregnancy tests are rampant in pandas. It's also very difficult for them to carry a baby to term, and then, once they've made it past those trials, to keep them alive for more than a few days after birth. The mom is in serious danger of crushing them accidentally! It makes me wonder if the universe really wants pandas to survive. I mean, why so difficult? Also, it seems that pandas are very crafty. They don't so much care if the little veterinarian people know if there's a panda in the oven or not. Keep 'em guessing. "Yes," Mei Xiang thought. "I will just CRADLE this nice APPLE here, and see the humans freak out with their video cameras and sonogram machines. Yessssss."
Not really. But they do dig their down time. The Post article says that no one "dares go near" the mother and baby at "this delicate time", stating immediately thereafter that Mei Xian "weighs 250 pounds," which isn't terribly sensitive. I mean, can't a girl get some privacy? I'm sure there's many a human mother who wishes no one would dare go near her either - no video cameras, no people waving, no one wanting you to pose for pictures while your INSIDES ARE SPLIT IN HALF. ; )
Here's a photo of a panda at the San Diego zoo who made it. Based on the odds, he rocks. He's tough as nails. Look at him - he'll take you out! Plus, how sweet he is. I do hope this new little one survives.
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