Panda Updates – Monday, August 9

Lun Lun recently entered pseudopregnancy, or a false pregnancy, which means that her hormones are telling her she is pregnant, even though she is not. This is a normal process for sexually mature female giant pandas who are not pregnant. During Lun’s pseudopregnancy, she spends a lot of time resting, and has less interest in food than normal.

Team members have noted that she’s been most interested in her diet first thing in the morning. She eats bamboo and some of her supplemental diet (leafeater biscuits and produce) and then spends most of her day napping. It will likely be around a month before her hormones begin to go back to baseline and she starts to come out of her pseudopregnancy.

Lun has contributed to the giant panda population with seven cubs, including the twins who are at Zoo Atlanta currently. She will be 24 years old on August 25, and is now living her best life in retirement.

(photo: Trish J.)

Trish J.
Keeper I, Mammals