Ueno's Pair of Pandas Ready to Mate?
A bit untimely for a visit to the zoo, but why not? Because, if you do, you will see the pair of pandas at the Ueno Zoo have the in-between partition removed for free interflow as they please. LeeLee and ShinShin, as they are called, are both in the mating season restlessly roaming about and occasionally squeaking in a tone of voice peculiar to the animal in estrus.
Giant pandas mate in February-May and the female panda can conceive only within a few days after ovulation. The pair had a baby 4 years ago in natural mating but lost it after a week and never since any sign of pregnancy. The zoo authorities contemplate artificial insemination should they fail this time.
A 17-year-old girl from Minato-ku said she had heard of the news and came to see them before they are sealed off sight the moment ShinShin is found pregnant. The Deputy Director Hirofumi Watanabe comments:
"We are watching them closely this time lest they should lose the baby by accident. Visitors are advised to leave them in peace."
The male panda LeeLee was born on August 16, 2005 and weighs 135kg. He is sensitive to unusual sounds and takes a while to get used to them. Otherwise he is an active sort of panda that climbs trees at ease.
ShinShin is a female panda, born on July 3, 2005 weighing 120kg, is a friendly animal least hesitant to approach strangers. Unlike LeeLee she detests sweets but a gourmet in bamboo. She takes extra care when picking which bamboo to eat.
The Ueno Zoo is the first zoo ever to exhibit pandas in Japan and succeed in breeding panda. It started as a menagerie attached to the National Museum of Natural History with which it shares a large urban park along with other museums, a small amusement park and a full-size music hall.
