Ocean Park’s female giant panda is about to embark on a programme of bear speed dating after it became abundantly clear she’s just not that into her roomie.
Nine-year-old female Ying Ying may be shipped off to Sichuan before her fertile cycle in March as part of the National Giant Panda Breeding Programme.
It is hoped she’ll be more inclined to open her furry legs for the black and white studs there than she has been for Le Le, her live-in male counterpart at Ocean Park.
If that doesn’t work, Ying Ying might be subjected to artificial insemination (the turkey baster method) with the sperm of other pandas, although such attempts have already failed with Le Le’s samples.
Ocean Park Chairman Leo Kung amusingly told the SCMP that incest among pandas is best avoided.
“Ideally the two mating pandas should be several layers removed and not directly related to each other. This can ensure genetic diversity.”
Also amusing is the deal about any resulting cubs that has been struck between China and Hong Kong.
In some screwed up Game of Thrones/biblical system, Hong Kong would get the first, third and fifth born cubs, while China would lay claim to the even numbers.
Image: DeviantArt.Net
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