Giant Panda Press Kit 2008
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Aug. 11: National Zoo Giant Panda Will Not Give Birth
Staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo confirmed today that female giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) will not give birth to a cub this year. They believe that she experienced either a pseudopregnancy or the loss of a developing fetus. -
June 20: National Zoo Giant Panda Pregnancy Update
Scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo detected a secondary rise in urinary progestin levels in the Zoo’s female giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) earlier this month. The results from yesterday's test lead scientists to believe the hormone rise indicates that it would be mid- to late-July before Mei Xiang either gives birth to a cub or comes to the end of a pseudopregnancy, or false pregnancy, which is common in giant pandas. - March 19: 2008 Giant Panda Mating Season Begins at National Zoo
National Zoo scientists and veterinarians performed a nonsurgical artificial insemination after the Zoo's giant pandas did not successfully mate.
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Media Contact Information
Sarah Taylor 
202.633.3081
Matt Olear 202.633.4085
Pamela Baker-Masson 202.633.3084 or 202.633.3055
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