Atlanta zoo’s panda pregnant

October 23, 2010|Associated Press

ATLANTA — Zoo Atlanta’s 13-year-old giant panda is pregnant with her third cub and expected to give birth early next month.

An ultrasound exam has confirmed that Lun Lun is pregnant. If all goes as planned, the mother’s cub would become the only giant panda born at a US zoo so far this year, said Rebecca Snyder, curator of mammals for Zoo Atlanta.

Snyder said the panda is expected to give birth in about two weeks and has been under round-the-clock monitoring since Monday.

“We’re thrilled,’’ Snyder said. “Giant panda reproduction is challenging, especially when you don’t have pandas that breed on their own.’’

In June, Lun Lun was inseminated with sperm from her partner, Yang Yang. Her two previous cubs also were produced by insemination, leading to the birth of Mei Lan in 2006 and Xi Lan in 2008.

Zoo Atlanta is one of only four US zoos with pandas.