Mei Xiang, a 22-year-old giant panda who came to the United States in 2000, could deliver a cub¹－or cubs－in the next few days, the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington has announced, after imaging revealed what appeared to be a fetus².

 

位于华盛顿的史密森尼国家动物园宣布，2000年赴美的22岁的旅美大熊猫美香可能在几日内诞下熊猫宝宝，此前的检查影像中看到了疑似胎儿的组织。
 

 

"We need this! We totally need this joy," said zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson. "We are all in desperate need of these feel-goods."

 

Mei has had numerous "false pregnancies," which are common in giant pandas and happen when the animal exhibits early signs of pregnancy³ but no cub appears. That is not the case this time, the zoo said.

 

Reproductive scientists from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and zoo veterinarians performed the artificial insemination of Mei Xiang in late March, with frozen semen collected from Tian Tian, Mei Xiang's companion who also came to the zoo nearly 20 years ago, the zoo said in a statement.

 

The panda could also have a stillbirth, or the fetuses⁴ could be resorbed, said spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson.

 

Chief veterinarian Don Neiffer said the zoo's panda pregnancy team would meet and make sure everyone was ready. "It takes a village to raise a panda -- or at least get one out," he said.

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