Yun Duo and Zhuang Zhuang were mutually affectionate, but they weren't allowed to mate immediately.
For the next few days, the two pandas continued their courtship through the bars, building their relationship.
At the same time, Yun Duo's condition was monitored to see if she was ready for mating.
The most straightforward sign that a panda in peak estrus is ready to mate is tail-raising!
If a female panda doesn't raise her tail properly, it can hinder mating. Only by raising her tail can she facilitate the male panda's efforts.
In the back room!
Yun Duo softly called out, "Meh meh," wandering around, looking longingly at the gate.
After a while, she stood up and clung to the bars, looking as if she was yearning for something.
Her thoughts had already drifted away, eagerly wanting to meet Zhuang Zhuang.
Keeper Xiao Gu took a bamboo stick and gently touched Yun Duo's tail.
As soon as the bamboo stick touched her tail, Yun Duo was stimulated to raise it and started to rub against it.
The bamboo stick is a useful tool for testing a panda's condition, allowing keepers to gauge the degree of estrus based on the tail-raising response.
Her reactions had become increasingly sensitive over the past couple of days, indicating that she had entered the peak of her estrus period. It was time to open the gate and allow them to mate.
Fang Ye said to Lan Li, "Let's start the live stream and rename the room to 'Pandas Mating'!"
Lan Li replied, "Got it!"
A couple of days ago, during a live stream, they mentioned the pandas' situation, and viewers were very curious and eager to watch the mating process.
Although visitors couldn't come to the zoo to watch, live streaming it was still okay.
"They're coming, they're coming!"
"Wow, today's content is quite explosive!"
"I'm a bit excited!"
"Has it started yet?"
As soon as the live stream began, many people flooded into the room, eagerly discussing.
Fang Ye laughed, "Not yet. Look at Yun Duo; she can't wait. We'll step out and find a better filming spot."
They moved to the upper level of the Panda Pavilion, offering a clear bird's-eye view.
While waiting, they chatted with the viewers.
Someone curiously asked, "I've heard that pandas are indifferent to mating. Will Zhuang Zhuang and Yun Duo be able to do it?"
Someone immediately refuted, "Pandas are not indifferent to mating; that's a misconception. Wild pandas have never had this issue; otherwise, how would they have survived for millions of years?"
Fang Ye laughed, "Captive pandas do have difficulty mating naturally for various reasons.
There was once a female panda that kept raising her tail for a male panda for over ten minutes, being very proactive.
But the male panda just lay on the grass, lazily sleeping.
After a while, when he didn't want to sleep anymore, he even turned over and got up to eat bamboo...
It's like a girlfriend wearing stockings, putting her feet on her boyfriend's shoulders and teasing him, but the boyfriend, wearing headphones, is completely engrossed in playing League of Legends, not even bothering to look back, determined to be a grand wizard."
Fang Ye's amusing description made the viewers laugh: "The male panda is so clueless!"
"Haha, the female panda must be so frustrated!"
"Stop it, my blood pressure is rising!"
Fang Ye continued, "That's nothing. Some aggressive males, afraid that the female will take their territory or interfere with their bamboo-eating, might even beat up the female.
In the wild, pandas gather during the mating season to compete for mates, with sub-adult pandas watching their elders to learn about mating.
To avoid such awkward situations, we learned from the wild pandas' mating experience and showed Zhuang Zhuang many panda videos to familiarize him with the process in advance."
"Amazing, there's such a method!"
"6666!"
At that moment, the gates on both sides of the Yin-Yang diagram and the gate from the back room to the activity area opened!
Yun Duo entered the activity area, first walking slowly and sniffing the scents.
Perhaps due to her estrus, her walk had more sway, looking more sensual than usual.
As soon as Zhuang Zhuang came out, he started running excitedly.
He ran and then rolled over, expressing his excitement.
Zhuang Zhuang first went to the bars and found the gate open. Without much hesitation, he looked around and walked through.
Yun Duo, seeing Zhuang Zhuang, paused as if wondering how he got there!
But after days of courtship, they were already in the mood!
Yun Duo turned around, raising her tail towards Zhuang Zhuang.
Zhuang Zhuang stood up, placing his paws on Yun Duo's back, raising his head, and opening his mouth.
Yun Duo couldn't help but let out a soft "meh" sound!
Fang Ye's eyes lit up, explaining, "Oh, Zhuang Zhuang is a well-versed 'cloud driver' with extensive theoretical knowledge, just lacking practical experience. Although it's his first time, his movements are quite skillful!"
Lan Li, feeling shy, couldn't help but gently slap Fang Ye's shoulder!
Zhuang Zhuang held his mouth open for a few seconds, feeling something was off!
He looked down in confusion.
Despite being a 'cloud driver,' he lacked practical experience and had only imitated the posture without finding the right spot.
He readjusted his position, with Yun Duo cooperating!
Fang Ye excitedly said, "Oh, this time it's really happening!"
Zhuang Zhuang, on Yun Duo's back, seemed to find the position tiring and switched to sitting on the ground, hugging Yun Duo.
"Spring has arrived, and everything is reviving..."
"Can I really watch this for free?"
"Beep beep, this is the car to the zoo!"
"Don't they need to chat a bit first? They just started right away?"
"Pandas are not indifferent at all; they're even more passionate than humans!"
"I'm blushing just watching this [covering eyes][covering eyes]!"
Despite their words, everyone watched with great interest.
One user sent a plane as a gift!
Another sent a rocket!
The staff watched this scene with the joy of farmers seeing a bountiful harvest in their vegetable garden.
They gave each other thumbs up in approval!
The two chubby black-and-white pandas swayed back and forth, looking very cute, with continuous "meh" sounds.
"So exciting!"
"Even national treasures mating is so adorable."
"Is this the sound pandas make? It's so quirky!"
"This is my first time hearing a panda's call! It sounds like a motorbike failing to start!"
Fang Ye glanced at the comments and said, "Panda cubs know many foreign languages; they can chirp like birds, bleat like sheep, and bark like dogs. Adult pandas usually don't talk, but during the mating season, they make these sheep-like calls to attract mates."
After a while, Yun Duo, with her paws on the ground, looked down.
She seemed a bit uncomfortable!
But she endured it, with the instinct to propagate her genes, adjusting her posture to cooperate.
Zhuang Zhuang, who had been exercising regularly, finally put his training to good use.
The two pandas mated for a full five minutes before separating.