Chapter 161: Chapter 727: Preparations for Panda Breeding!
In the following days, Sun Da Sheng and Sun Yuan Xiao continued their daily drama of chase and escape.
This state persisted for over ten days, and Sun Yuan Xiao finally entered her estrus period!
Although she initially disliked Sun Da Sheng, her breeding instincts kicked in, and she began to pursue him.
Male Pallas's cats can remain in their breeding phase for about 40 days, while the female's estrus period is very short, lasting only a few days.
The saying "a man pursuing a woman is like crossing a mountain, but a woman pursuing a man is like a veil" applies to animals as well.
With Sun Yuan Xiao's pursuit, the two Pallas's cats mated on the same day.
The next day, Sun Yuan Xiao was even more proactive, and by the third day, the mating became even more intense.
However, once her estrus period ended, Sun Yuan Xiao immediately lost interest in Sun Da Sheng and would run up a tree to avoid him.
Sun Da Sheng was just a tool for mating, discarded once his purpose was fulfilled.
After observing for a few days and confirming that the two Pallas's cats would no longer mate, Fang Ye moved Sun Yuan Xiao to the birthing room, separating the two to prevent Sun Da Sheng from disturbing her, ensuring a good environment for her to give birth.
Sun Yuan Xiao entered a reclusive mode, staying in the small breeding nest box all day, unwilling to come out, leaving everyone unsure if she was pregnant.
The gestation period for Pallas's cats is about 66-75 days, so if she is pregnant, little Pallas's cats should appear in two months.
The breeding nest box was designed based on Director Xi's experience, as cats prefer smaller spaces where they feel more secure.
March arrived, bringing warm spring weather.
With the Pallas's cat breeding season over, it was time for the giant pandas' mating season.
Zhuang Zhuang and Yun Duo behaved as usual, showing no signs of estrus yet, but the preparations had already begun.
Step one: Show Zhuang Zhuang some videos!
Zhuang Zhuang was happily munching on bamboo in the back room when a TV was wheeled in, playing panda mating videos.
On the screen, a panda lay on the ground while another panda gently rocked it, emitting continuous moaning sounds.
"Meh~~~ meh~~~ meh~~~ meh~~~"
It sounded like a motorbike struggling to start!
Zhuang Zhuang stared blankly at the TV screen, thinking, "Wow, such stimulating content so early in the morning!"
He remembered that around this time last year, he was shown dozens of these videos every day.
Last year, he was a bit confused while watching and learning, but this year, being physically and mentally mature and at the right age for mating, the videos had a much stronger impact!
Hearing the female panda's moans, he felt like little bugs were crawling all over his body, making him itchy.
Zhuang Zhuang was so engrossed in the video that he forgot to eat the bamboo in his mouth.
After the video ended and he resumed eating bamboo, he still felt restless.
The images of the pandas embracing and the female panda's affectionate moans kept replaying in his mind.
He ran to the activity area, practiced a dozen sets of panda boxing, and tore a sack to pieces to vent his emotions before feeling somewhat calmer.
Every day, Zhuang Zhuang was shown videos to guide him into estrus.
First, they needed to get Zhuang Zhuang into the mating state, as male pandas have a longer estrus period, while the peak estrus period for female pandas is very short.
His diet also changed, with more nutritious meals than usual.
With daily special meals and videos, Zhuang Zhuang was full of energy and began exhibiting some strange behaviors!
Usually silent, he now emitted soft, sheep-like calls.
"Meh~~ meh~~~"
This call typically indicates friendliness or hunger.
During the estrus period, this unique call is a desperate mating call that other pandas can understand.
He wandered around the activity area, calling out continuously, rubbing his butt on bamboo, rocks, and walls to leave his scent.
He even supported his body with his arms, placed his short, chubby hind legs on a tree trunk, and performed a high-difficulty handstand urination.
This is a unique behavior of pandas during the estrus period!
By urinating higher, the scent spreads further, signaling to female pandas his availability and warning other males that this territory belongs to him.
Zhuang Zhuang's handstand urination was captured on camera, and the zoo posted an article with the image.
Netizens enthusiastically commented: "Haha, doesn't my panda have any dignity? Even urinating is photographed and watched!"
"Best wishes to Zhuang Zhuang and Yun Duo for a happy union and many cubs!"
"Hehe, if they succeed, will we get wedding candy?"
"By the way, when will the zoo reopen? Some places have already resumed operations. I want to watch their mating live!"
Reply: "The zoo will probably reopen in mid-month! However, to give the pandas a peaceful environment for mating and not affect their breeding, the panda pavilion will remain closed to visitors even if the zoo reopens."
"Ah, that's a pity!"
With Zhuang Zhuang in estrus, the next step was to swap the enclosures of the two pandas so they could smell each other's feces!
Usually, the two pandas are kept apart, unable to see, hear, or smell each other, creating a sense of mystery.
Although pandas are solitary animals, meeting only during the mating season, they don't mate immediately upon meeting; they need a brief familiarization step.
This step is short but essential.
In the wild, pandas gather at certain fixed meeting spots during the mating season, akin to a matchmaking corner.
Along the way, they sniff each other's scents and leave their own, akin to leaving a resume at the matchmaking corner.
"I am a chubby panda, weighing 100 kilograms, good at fighting, loves sleeping, looking for a cute female panda!"
"My name is Dada, loves eating bamboo, where are you, my ideal mate?"
When they meet, they can identify each other by scent.
The female panda stays in the tree, while the male pandas fight below. The winner earns the female's favor, mates, and then they go their separate ways.
Captive pandas skip the fighting step; sniffing each other's scents allows them to become familiar and interested, increasing the likelihood of a smooth meeting.
Otherwise, if they suddenly meet without recognizing each other's scent, they might become tense and wary, potentially leading to a fight instead of mating.
After swapping enclosures, Yun Duo and Zhuang Zhuang sniffed each other's scents and feces.
For pandas, their sense of smell is their most sensitive sense, providing a lot of information.
For Zhuang Zhuang, it was like entering a pink boudoir, with pretty dresses, smooth stockings, lying on a soft bed with a lingering pleasant scent, filling his mind with fantasies.
A beautiful lady once lived here! Just being here makes me unable to contain my urge to mate!
Yun Duo felt the same, imagining a strong, majestic male panda.
Playing Zhuang Zhuang's mating calls and letting her sniff his feces, Yun Duo also entered her estrus period after a few days.
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