Xiang Xiang now behaves like an adult, resting for 10 to 15 hours a day and spending the rest of the time foraging and other activities. Since June, we have seen an increase in her resting time and a decrease in her foraging time, indicating that she is developing a summer behavior pattern.
Although still smaller than an adult, it has grown into a fine specimen. It turned 3 years old on June 12th.
Xiang Xiang's diet mainly consists of bamboo and bamboo grass, in addition to apples, carrots, panda dumplings, and pellets, just like Ri Ri and Shin Shin. Her weight may fluctuate depending on the amount she eats and the timing of her bowel movements, but her nutrition is carefully managed.
From April 6th, they will be kept in indoor enclosure No. 2 on warmer days and in outdoor enclosure A on cooler days. In addition to eating bamboo, they can also be seen bathing and resting on the platform.
Furthermore, we are continuing Xiang Xiang's Eurasian Moorhen training, which we started on February 4, 2019 (training to encourage animals to behave spontaneously, with the aim of ensuring the healthy upbringing of animals and the safe working conditions of humans).
On July 5, 2020 (1,119 days old), the measurement showed a weight of 79.6 kg.
Please note that, for the sake of the animals' health management, we may change their rooms depending on the individual animal's condition.
Regarding the breeding status of Ri Ri and Shin Shin
1. Shinshin's estrus status We have been carefully observing for signs of estrus in preparation for breeding, but no behaviors that could be considered signs of estrus have been observed. In addition, we have been regularly measuring hormonal metabolites in the urine that may indicate signs of estrus, but the levels have remained low, and no changes indicating estrus have been observed.
2. Leelee's situation Giant Panda exhibit specific behaviors during the breeding season. Since November 2019, these specific behaviors (increased frequency of urinating while standing on their heads, sniffing, marking, vocalizing, and rubbing their bodies) have been observed. Since then, we have been regularly introducing males to the females' enclosure to allow them to smell the females and observe any further changes in their behavior. However, these behaviors have been decreasing since May 2020, and by June, they had subsided and were hardly observed at all.
3. Future Plans We will continue to monitor the situation carefully while maintaining regular contact with experts in China.
Shanshan
Lily
Shinshin
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*As a general rule, Xiang Xiang's physical examination is conducted on days ending in "5" (it may also be conducted on other days).
*Announcements will be made on the website twice a month, around 3 PM on the day following a park closure.
The scheduled dates for July 2020 are the 14th (Tuesday) and the 28th (Tuesday). Please watch the July 28th broadcast on Tokyo Zoo Net YouTube channel below.
