Daniela Berson
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) The National Zoo closed off part of its panda exhibit today in preparation for the possible birth of a new cub.
If she’s pregnant, Mei Xiang is expected to give birth within 20 to 40 days.
But panda biologist Laurie Thompson said that she might just be experiencing a pseudo-pregnancy.
“They act like they’re pregnant and do all the same things they would do if they were pregnant, but they’re actually not,” Thompson said.
Mei Xiang has a history of pseudo-pregnancies and, with no definitive way to know if her pregnancy is real or not, panda fans will have to find out when the big day arrives.
Panda pregnancy tests are difficult because the mother bear is 50 times larger than her newborn cub.
Until Mei Xiang gives birth or ends her pseudo-pregnancy, she will live in a designated quiet zone away from Bao Bao and Tian Tian.
Copyright 2015 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: National Zoo)
