Experts believe a “mother” panda in China has faked a pregnancy to receive better food and care in her breeding centre.
The world’s first live broadcast of a panda birth was cancelled after experts believed six-year old Ai Hin was showing symptoms of a ‘phantom pregnancy’ which is common among giant pandas.
Experts believe the giant panda started showing signs of pregnancy including reduced appetite and mobility in July, at which point it was decided she would participate in the first ever live broadcast.
Two months later, the observation team have told state news agency Xinhua that Ai Hin’s behaviour and physiological tests returned to normal.
Wu Kongju, an expert at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre where Ai Hin is kept, explained that Ai Hin has proven to be a highly intelligent bear, saying:
“After showing prenatal signs, the ‘mothers-to-be’ are moved into single rooms with air conditioning and around-the-clock care.
“They also receive more buns, fruits and bamboo, so some clever pandas have used this to their advantage to improve their quality of life.”
Image via Independent.co.uk
