You all know I'm a Panda Cam addict so I'm soooo happy about this! The DC Zoo panda momma ended up not being pregnant, but the San Diego Zoo one is now confirmed!
Bai Yun is expecting! (July 31, 2007)
We are now on 24-hour birth watch after a staff veterinarian confirmed, through the use of ultrasound, that Bai Yun is pregnant. A birth is expected some time in August. On July 18, a fetus and fetal heartbeat were observed through ultrasound images. The news was not announced until additional ultrasound procedures confirmed the fetus was developing normally. At this time, the team has only been able to verify the presence of one fetus.
For the past two weeks, Bai Yun has remained in an off-exhibit habitat where she has slowly been showing signs of a pregnancy including changes in her hormone levels, nest building, and a loss of appetite. Most recently, her mammary glands have swollen and she is almost exclusively spending her time indoors and in the den.
UPDATE: She gave birth on Friday!!! Woohoo! Another squishy furball to watch grow up!
Panda Cam link for anyone else who's as big a dork as I am, lol: San Diego Panda Cam