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Everyone's handling the global pandemic in their own way.
Key points:
- According to Ocean Park, the pair began leaving "scent markings" around their enclosure last month
- The chance of pregnancy via natural mating is higher than by artificial insemination, the zoo said
- If successful, Ying Ying could show signs of pregnancy as early as late June
You might be basking in your own filth watching the umpteenth hour of Netflix, or perhaps you're using all that spare time to try your hand at an ill-advised self-improvement project.
Or, if you're anything like Le Le and Ying Ying, you're mating with your partner for the first time in a decade.
The giant pandas, who reside at Hong Kong's Ocean Park, first began attempts at "natural mating" 10 years ago — but with the zoo now closed to the public due to coronavirus restrictions, it would seem the duo decided to make the most of their newfound privacy.
"Since Ying Ying and Le Le's arrival in Hong Kong in 2007 and attempts at natural mating since 2010, they unfortunately have yet to succeed until this year upon years of trial and learning," Michael Boos, executive director in zoological operations and conservation at Ocean Park, said in a statement.
"The successful natural mating process ... is extremely exciting for all of us, as the chance of pregnancy via natural mating is higher than by artificial insemination."
According to Ocean Park, the pair began "spending more time playing in the water" and leaving "scent markings" around their enclosure towards the end of March, coinciding with the beginning of the panda mating season, which lasts until May.
If successful, Ying Ying could show signs of pregnancy as early as late June — although the zoo notes that she could also experience a "pseudo-pregnancy".
"We hope to bear wonderful pregnancy news to Hong Kongers this year and make further contributions to the conservation of this vulnerable species," Mr Boos said.
According to the World Wildlife Organisation, there are just over 1,800 pandas left in the wild.
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
Topics: animals, diseases-and-disorders, health, covid-19, human-interest, hong-kong
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