Everything you need to know about panda pregnancy
Posted September 30, 2015 2:08 pm.
Last Updated September 30, 2015 2:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Er Shun, the giant panda currently living at the Toronto Zoo, is pregnant and it’s cause for celebration!
But just how much do you know about panda pregnancy?
We’ve gathered together a few answers to some of your more popular questions:
Why are panda babies so rare?
Female pandas only ovulate once a year and are fertile for only two or three days, which leaves a very small window for conception. Because she will spend the next few years looking after her new cub, in the wild the female panda usually only has a cub every other year.
What does a newborn panda look like?
A newborn panda is 1/900th the size of its mother — roughly the length of a stick of butter. Panda cubs are born blind and cannot crawl. They are usually white in colour and develop their black fur later on.
How old does a panda have to be to start breeding?
Giant pandas reach breeding maturity between four and eight years of age. They may be reproductive until about age 20.
How long is a panda pregnant?
The panda will give birth to her cub about 95 and 160 days after mating. The reason for this time difference is that the fertilized egg doesn’t always implant right away and can float in the uterus for several months.
Do Panda’s often have twins?
No. It is rare for a female panda to give birth to twins. Unfortunately, if she does, the second cub is unlikely to survive. In the wild, the mother will usually only nurse one of the twins, allowing the second cub to die.
In captivity, zoo officials will routinely rotating the infants from incubation to time with the mother to increase the live expectancy of both cubs.
Can the panda twins have different fathers?
Yes. It is possible both in captivity and in the wild for the twins to have different fathers. In captivity genetic testing is usually done when the cubs are strong enough to determine if they have the same or different fathers.
How long does a baby panda have to stay with its mother?
The cub is very vulnerable at birth and relies heavily on the mother. The cub will stay with its mother for about 18 months before it is strong enough to head out into the world on its own.
