Panda Updates – Monday, August 24

Although Lun Lun is 22 (turning 23 tomorrow!) and is no longer breeding, female giant pandas can still undergo something known as a pseudopregnancy (or “false pregnancy”). During this time, Lun Lun is experiencing hormonal changes, but she has also been showing a few behavioral signs that indicate to us that she has entered pseudopregnancy. Right now Lun is sleeping more often and not eating as much. While we always try to provide the bears with the option to spend time in different spaces, Lun is choosing to spend most of her time in our behind-the-scenes den spaces right now where she also has the option of spending time in an off-habitat outdoor space connected to one of the dens. While her activity levels are low right now (a perfectly normal response while undergoing pseudopregnancy), when she is up and about, Lun likes to spend some time nest building so the Panda Care Team makes sure to offer her nesting materials like hay and browse. 

Amanda D.
Keeper I, Mammals