Chapter 164: Chapter 730: Reopening!
This breeding season, without any disturbance from visitors, Yun Duo and Zhuang Zhuang's natural mating went smoothly.
As for how long it will take to confirm if she's pregnant, that's hard to say!
Pandas have a very peculiar gestation period, ranging from 70 to 320 days. This means the longest gestation can be eight months longer than the shortest, four to five times the duration!
While other animals might have already given birth, some pandas might still show no signs of pregnancy.
In mythology, Nezha was said to be in the womb for three years and six months before being born, likely inspired by pandas.
Not only is the gestation period highly variable, but false pregnancies are also common.
Some female pandas even pretend to be pregnant every year to enjoy the air conditioning and avoid outdoor activities...
For keepers and panda fans eagerly awaiting the birth of cubs, encountering such situations is an emotional rollercoaster, filled with hope and disappointment, truly torturous!
Typically, a panda's gestation period is 110-130 days, so it takes about three months post-mating to know if she's pregnant.
...
In mid-March, the zoo reopened, but tickets had to be booked online at least a day in advance.
On the weekend.
Tang Xiaoxin, wearing a pretty little dress, rolled around on her bed, her excitement evident: "Going to the zoo!"
Having had nowhere to go during the holidays, she had to stay home, wearing pajamas every day, watching boring TV shows with her parents. She felt like she was going moldy, utterly bored.
She dreamed of going out to play!
Leaning against the window, watching the clouds, she called Qian Keke.
The weather was great today, with a clear blue sky and bright sunshine, perfect for an outing.
The soft, fluffy clouds were bathed in golden sunlight, reflecting Tang Xiaoxin's radiant smile.
"Hey, Keke... I'm getting ready to leave, uh-huh, let's go now!"
Before leaving home, she hugged her little black cat and kissed it repeatedly!
"Be good, Blackie, wait for me to come back!"
Blackie, feeling annoyed, pushed Tang Xiaoxin's face away and jumped out of her arms.
Downstairs, the flowers in the green area were blooming, with clusters of light pink and rose-red petals, lifting everyone's spirits.
In the neighborhood, some elderly people were strolling with their hands behind their backs, some were using fitness equipment, and others were sitting on benches, basking in the sun and breathing in the fresh air, exuding a leisurely and comfortable sense of happiness.
Except for the masks on their faces, it seemed like life had returned to normal, as if there had never been a pandemic.
Previously, the anti-epidemic measures were very strict, with security guards closely monitoring, preventing gatherings and idle chatting. Everyone sensibly stayed home and didn't go out.
Tang Xiaoxin picked up her phone and took a few photos of the flowers downstairs, genuinely sighing, "Ah, it's so nice to be able to go out and play!"
A little dog, looking flustered, ran past her feet.
Its fur was gray-black, with a white forehead and nose, resembling a raccoon more than a dog!
Tang Xiaoxin was surprised: "Huh, did the zoo's raccoon escape?"
Looking closely, she realized it was different from a raccoon. Raccoons have a mischievous look, with a kind of cute yet sly expression.
Other residents also noticed this strange-looking animal, their curious eyes following it.
It was actually a raccoon dog.
During the pandemic, there were many news reports of animals appearing in the streets.
Internationally, there were pumas foraging in downtown Santiago, Chile; a mother duck leading her ducklings on Paris's ring road; flocks of goats wandering in coastal towns in Wales; and penguins strutting down the streets.
Domestically, there were reports of pandas leisurely strolling on national highways and wild boars running across the Yangtze River Bridge.
Wild animals have always lived in cities, usually avoiding humans to prevent encounters.
When the pandemic hit and people stayed indoors, leaving the cities quiet, these wild animals naturally came out to explore.
It seemed this raccoon dog had thoroughly explored the area over the past few months and had become familiar with its new environment.
However, it was used to this path being empty, and today, seeing so many people suddenly appear, it got a bit flustered and panicked.
It ran past Tang Xiaoxin's feet and bumped into a resident's leg.
During this time, people had been receiving various news updates and had reflected on the relationship between humans and nature.
With the pandemic temporarily over, their health intact, and no longer confined to their homes, they could go out and play with friends and eat hot pot.
Having lost something, they now cherished the everyday joys they once took for granted. Returning to normal life, people became kinder.
Seeing the raccoon dog bump into them, they didn't kick it or scare it away, but gently made way for it.
The raccoon dog hurriedly disappeared into the bushes.
At the bus stop.
"Xiaoxin!"
Qian Keke happily bounced around, waving at her.
Looking at the street, with scattered pedestrians and a steady stream of cars, she spread her arms, squinting her eyes as if embracing the revived city.
"So nice! If a reporter asked me what happiness is right now, I'd say going to school and playing on weekends is happiness."
Even Qian Keke, who dreaded exams and couldn't muster the energy to study, made such a remark, showing how stifled she had felt during this period.
But this feeling was probably temporary.
After attending school for a couple of days and getting scolded by the teacher, she would likely start longing for the days of staying home again.
Tang Xiaoxin nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes! Today, we must have a blast to make up for the lost holiday fun."
Qian Keke sighed, "I had planned with my parents to book a room at a hot spring hotel before the New Year and have a relaxing soak, but it didn't happen.
But we can go to the hot spring anytime. Some seasonal scenes, like the snow monkeys soaking in the hot springs and the fiery red maple forest in the rural exhibit, can only be seen next year."
Tang Xiaoxin laughed, "It's okay. Every season has its own beauty. Now the cherry blossoms are blooming in the cherry blossom forest. We can go see them! By the way, did you know the zoo has a new butterfly pavilion?"
"Wow, a butterfly pavilion! I can't wait! Let's get on the bus!"
The two got on the bus, and Tang Xiaoxin shared a little story from her walk: "When I left the neighborhood, I saw an animal that looked a lot like a raccoon! I wonder what it was."
"Huh, do we have animals roaming the streets here too?"
...
Arriving at the zoo!
Parents pushing strollers or holding their children's hands, young people coming in groups, and children looking especially excited, tugging their parents' arms, eager to rush in.
A volunteer came to the back of the line, reminding everyone, "Please have your health codes ready and wear your masks..."
At the zoo entrance, there was a rapid temperature screening device, allowing visitors to enter quickly without having to wait in long lines.
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