The Advancements in Captive Panda Breeding

Recent advancements have significantly improved mating and pregnancy success, as well as cub survival.

They’re the cuddliest, clumsiest bamboo-punching bears… but pandas are also classified as a vulnerable species and because of low birth rates in the wild, captive breeding programs are crucial to sustaining the panda population. Because it’s National Panda Day on March 16, we’re looking at how captive breeding has advanced over the years.

Captive breeding programs started in China in 1955, but it wasn’t until September 9, 1963, that Ming Ming, the first captive-born giant panda, was born at the Beijing zoo. Since then, breeding programs have progressed, as has our understanding of mating behaviors, pregnancies, and the care of cubs born in captivity. 

Early attempts at breeding pandas revealed how challenging it was to get them to naturally mate as they often lacked interest or didn’t know how. However, studies on their behavior helped increase natural mating success rate. Additionally, scientists discovered how crucial timing was, as female pandas only have a short fertility window of 24 to 36 hours during their annual estrous cycle, which lasts for several days. When female pandas approach their fertility window, their hormone levels are tested using urine samples. Equipped with the knowledge about their estrous cycle, hormone levels, and clues about their behavior, and using advanced medical technology, scientists are now able to identify the ideal time to perform the process of artificial insemination. 

Confirming panda pregnancy is a challenging process, as neither artificial insemination nor natural mating guarantees it. Pandas experience embryonic diapause, where the fertilized embryo doesn’t implant immediately, causing pregnancy to last anywhere from 50 to over 160 days. Additionally, female pandas can undergo pseudopregnancy, which means they exhibit pregnancy-like symptoms without actually being pregnant. And since panda fetuses are often too small to detect on an ultrasound, the pregnancy is usually confirmed only once the cub is born.

Baby pandas are born blind, nearly hairless, and they’re extremely small. Their fragility puts them at high risk of illness and death, but with the advanced knowledge and technology, 90% of cubs at breeding centers can survive. Pandas often give birth to twins but can only care for one cub. In the wild, this is tantamount to death for the second cub but at breeding centers, researchers ensure both cubs survive by swapping them in and out with the mother. Staff also act as surrogate mothers, feeding and caring for the cubs when needed, while monitoring their development. Staff also step in as surrogate mothers and provide food and care while tracking their growth and development.

In the past two decades, the number of successful panda births in captivity has greatly increased, thanks to improved knowledge and scientific advancements. Today, there are more than 600 pandas living in captivity, which is promising for the future of the species, and National Panda Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate this progress.