A semi-surprise pregnancy by giant panda Mei Ziang has Washington, DC and officials at the National Zoo anticipating good news at the recently re-opened facility. The baby panda could be due at almost any moment.
The pregnancy is only a semi-surprise, because it’s the result of artificial insemination by zoo officials. On the other hand, giant pandas, like other large bears, are prone to ‘phantom pregnancies’ which do not result in a birth. But Mei Ziang had an ultrasound a few days ago, and is definitely pregnant and near term.
Although the Zoo has been closed until recently by pandemic rules, visitors are now able to visit outdoor areas—but Mei Ziang has been spending almost all her time indoors, building a nest of branches. But visitors can still see her on the Zoo’s ‘panda cam‘
