Giant Panda Shows Signs Of Pregnancy At National Zoo

WASHINGTON, DC — The panda house at the National Zoo is temporarily closed t0 keep things quiet around giant panda Mei Xiang, who may have a cub on the way. Zookeepers said they're not able to confirm if 19-year-old Mei Xiang is pregnant yet, but they're watching her 24 hours a day to look for signs.

Recently, Mei Xiang has been sleeping in, eating less and even building a nest in her den. She was artificially inseminated in March, and veterinarians are conducting ultrasounds twice a week to track changes in her reproductive tract, but they have not seen anything yet. Giant panda embryos float in the uterus after fertilization and do not implant in the uterine wall until a few weeks before birth, making pregnancies more difficult to detect.

"Mei Xiang is exhibiting expected, normal behaviors after the secondary hormone rise that are in line with both a pregnancy and pseudo, or false, pregnancy," a statement from the zoo said. "She is building a nest in her den, has a decreased appetite, is sleeping more and is reacting to loud noises. Paws-crossed!"

Pandas can undergo pseudopregnancies, where they do everything they would if they were pregnant. Her urinary levels of progesterone are rising, which indicates that Mei Xiang will either give birth or experience the final stages of a pseudopregnancy within the next month, the zoo says.

Mei Xiang is usually anxiously waiting at the door to venture outside for her bamboo breakfast when the keepers arrive in the morning, but lately she has been sleeping in, only rousing after the keepers have filled her yard with bamboo. She is also eating less bamboo, which is normal for a panda in the final stages of a pregnancy or pseudopregnancy, say zoo officials. However, she is still eating some of her favorite things like apples, pears and biscuits. She is also steadily building a nest in her den and the soft cushion of shredded bamboo now mostly covers the floor.

In the past she has moved some of her toys and feeders in the den to cradle like she would a newborn cub. She also will become much more sensitive to noise.

The closure will not affect the outdoor habitats and viewing areas. Bei Bei and Tian Tian will have access to be outside until 2 p.m., but the best time to see them will be outside from 8-10 a.m., zookeepers said. Indoor viewing will be closed.

You can also keep an eye on the animals via the Giant Panda Cam.

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(Photo via National Zoo)