The Washington Post has reported that Mei Xiang NameMei Xiang Chinese Names美香 Stud Number473 Date of Birth1998-Jul-22 SexFemale Current LocationSmithsonian's National Zoo Born atWOLONG MotherXue Xue - #444 FatherLIn Nan - #298 was heard emiting mating calls to Tian Tian. The keepers watched her hormone levels in Mei Xiang NameMei Xiang Chinese Names美香 Stud Number473 Date of Birth1998-Jul-22 SexFemale Current LocationSmithsonian's National Zoo Born atWOLONG MotherXue Xue - #444 FatherLIn Nan - #298 urine, when the levels suggested she had ovulated Tian Tian was allowed in to her enclosure. It appears that they did not manager to mate naturally so the vets anesthetized both pandas, collected semen from Tian Tian and placed it in Mei Xiand's uterus.

Now all that is left to do is wait. Finding out if pandas are indeed pregnant is very difficult to tell. They can show signs in both their hormones and behaviour but not be pregnant. The only way to really tell is to see if a cub is born in anywhere from 90 to 185 days time.

Mating is early this year as pandas normally come into season in March or April.