Panda ’fakes pregnancy’ to get better living conditions

Hopes that another panda cub would soon be born in Taiwan were dashed when experts determined that signs of pregnancy displayed by a giant panda at Taipei Zoo appear to have been faked by the animal in order to secure better conditions during the summer.

台北动物园的大熊猫为在炎炎夏日获取更好的生活条件，假装怀孕迹象被专家识破后，台湾即将出生另一只熊猫幼崽的希望也随之破灭。

Yuan Yuan, one of a pair given to Taiwan as gifts by the Chinese mainland in December 2008 had shown signs of pregnancy such as loss of appetite, thickening of the uterus and increased fecal progesterone concentration since June 11.

2008年12月，大陆将一对大熊猫作为礼物送给台湾，其中一只雌性熊猫圆圆在6月11日表现出食欲不振、子宫变厚和排泄物黄体酮含量增加等怀孕症状。

But panda experts flown from the mainland determined through ultrasound checks that Yuan Yuan was not pregnant, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.

然而据台湾中央通讯社消息，大陆熊猫专家飞赴台湾，通过超声波检测之后确定圆圆没有怀孕。

The 11-year-old had been artificially inseminated on March 26 and 27 when she was on heat, according to a zoo spokesman.

动物园发言人称，现年11岁大的圆圆在3月26日和27日处于发情期时接受了人工受孕。

The symptoms of pregnancy are already beginning to return to normal appetite levels and behavior, the spokesman said.

发言人还称，怀孕症状开始逐渐消退，回归正常食欲和行为。

Pandas thought to be pregnant are moved into single rooms with air conditioning and round-the-clock care and also receive more fruits and bamboo.

熊猫被认为怀孕之后，就被转移到一个带空调的单间，并时刻被工作人员照料，还有更多的水果和竹子。

Experts believe clever pandas display behavior similar to pregnancy to improve their quality of life after noticing the difference in treatment they receive.

专家认为，聪明的熊猫在发现怀孕前后受到待遇的差别，为提高生活质量会表现出类似怀孕的症状。

Yuan Yuan, which went to Taiwan with Tuan Tuan, gave birth to her first and only cub, Yuan Zai, in July 2013. The names of the pair produce the Chinese phrase tuan yuan, which means reunion. They are among the most popular attractions at the zoo.

圆圆在2013年7月产下了唯一的幼崽圆仔，同圆圆一同来到台湾的还有团团。这对大熊猫的命名源于中文词“团圆”，寓意团聚，它们是园中最受欢迎动物。

完成阅读

来源:China Daily爱语吧作者:孙梦光