Adelaide Zoo hopes giant pandas Funi and Wang Wang will mate successfully - NEWS.com.au
Funi examines traditional romantic gifts of flowers and chocolates left for her yesterday by her Romeo, Wang Wang, at Adelaide Zoo. She is expected to come into season soon. Picture: Matt Turner Source: AdelaideNow
The biological clock is ticking for Adelaide Zoo pandas Wang Wang and Funi, with the zoo planning to take matters into their own
THEY live apart and barely known each other, but there'll be little time for romance when giant pandas Wang Wang and Funi date in the next few weeks.
The Adelaide Zoo is counting on the couple conceiving during the 36-hour window of opportunity that opens when Funi comes into season.
Female pandas only ovulate once a year and Adelaide Zoo spokeswoman Alison Hassel said everything was on track for the breeding attempt to go ahead soon.
"The first time she (Funi) was here she came into season in October, and last year it was September, so we are expecting any time between the end of this month and mid next month," she said.
Adelaide Zoo has ruled out using "panda porn" - movies depicting mating pandas - to teach the pair how to mate, despite its success in China.
Zoos SA, which recorded a debt of $7.5 million this year, hopes the arrival of a panda cub would boost visitor numbers.
Zoo staff will test Funi's hormones daily over the next few weeks to see when they are at their highest.
Source: AdelaideNow
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