Breeding attempts fail again for Adelaide pandas
Adelaide Zoo’s giant pandas Wang Wang and Funi have failed to mate for another year.
Experts had been brought in to artificially inseminate Funi if the pair failed to mate, but the zoo said those attempts were also unsuccessful.
The Adelaide Zoo said panda mating is difficult at the best of times, but this year’s artificial insemination attempts were made even more complicated by the low sperm count – which it said is not uncommon in young male pandas.
Adelaide Zoo Senior Panda Keeper, Simone Davey, says both pandas are returning to their normal routines following the breeding season.
“We’re still occasionally seeing some breeding season like behaviours - scent-marking or some restlessness - but their appetites have returned, and both are spending time exploring their individual areas”,” she said.
“We have learnt a great deal from this year’s breeding attempt and are looking forward to next year when hopefully we will have more success.”
The zoo is now considering looking overseas to see if they should consider using another male's sperm to inseminate Funi.
