The second round of artificial insemination was performed on
Tuesday on five-year-old Chinese female panda Lin Hui, which has
been in Thailand's Chiang Mai Zoo for more than three years, in an
attempt to produce a baby panda.
Prasertsak Boontrakulpoonthawi, head of Thailand's panda
research and demonstration project, said the first round of
artificial insemination performed on Monday went on well.
The procedure to inject semen into Lin Hui on her annual fertile
period was carried out again Tuesday morning as suggested by
specialists from China, Thailand and the United States, the
state-run Thai News Agency reported.
Lin Hui, three years into their ten-year loan from China, will
be under special care and given ultrasound exam to check her
pregnancy. It takes three months to know if the conception is
successful.
If Lin Hui gives birth to a baby during her stay here, Thailand
will be allowed to take care of the baby panda for two years before
handing it over to China.
(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2007)
