China Daily
Date: 2015-07-28

Hopes that another panda cub would soon be born in Taiwan were dashed when experts

determined that signs of pregnancy displayed by a giant panda at Taipei Zoo appear to have been faked by the animal in order to secure better conditions during the summer.

Yuan Yuan, one of a pair given to Taiwan as gifts by the Chinese mainland in December 2008 had shown signs of pregnancy such as loss of appetite, thickening of the uterus and increased fecal progesterone concentration since June 11.

But panda experts flown from the mainland determined through ultrasound checks that Yuan Yuan was not pregnant, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.

The 11-year-old had been artificially inseminated on March 26 and 27 when she was on heat, according to a zoo spokesman.     [FULL  STORY]