🐼4.18 Panda Base VH: Breakthrough in Panda Pregnancy Detection

It is currently breeding season. We have begun the year’s first round of giant panda breeding and parturition. I am reporting a notable development.

Giant Panda Pregnancy Basics
Newborn giant pandas typically weigh ~120g—about 1/1000 of the mother’s body weight. Gestation ranges from 73 to 185 days. After mating, embryonic development is delayed due to embryonic diapause (1–4 months). Implantation occurs 20–25 days before birth.

Challenge: False Pregnancies and Imaging Limitations
Panda pregnancies are hard to confirm. Embryos are very small. False pregnancies are common. Traditional methods (type-B ultrasound and behavioral observation) are unreliable. Previous scans often required anesthesia, posing ethical and medical risks.

New Method: Behavioral Conditioning and Multiplanar Ultrasound
Since last year, daily behavioral training has been implemented. Females are conditioned to hold different positions: supine, prone, semi-squat, dog-sit, and back-supported sit. This enables multiplanar ultrasound imaging without sedation.

Result: Improved Diagnostic Accuracy
This year, 15 females underwent non-sedated ultrasound scans. Outcomes:

• 6 false pregnancies identified.

• 9 pregnancies confirmed.

• Embryos located in uterine horns, both single and twin.

• Imaging quality improved due to posture variation.

• Full procedure completed without anesthesia.
  This is a significant improvement in both diagnostic precision and animal welfare.

Technical Observation
Minor adjustments in body posture led to significant gains in image clarity.

Attached are type-B ultrasound images from this season. Each image is from a different panda.