Giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia mate for first time

SINGAPORE — Notoriously difficult to breed, giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia have officially crossed their first mating season, said the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) yesterday.

The 40-minute mating session at the River Safari last Friday, however, did not appear to be successful — typical for first-time breeders as they may not know how to mate — and a decision was made to artificially inseminate Jia Jia, the WRS said in a statement.

“Jia Jia’s (level of) hormones started falling on Friday and we needed to move quickly to artificial insemination due to the short window when female pandas are able to conceive,” said Dr Serena Oh, the WRS’ assistant director of veterinary services.

Kai Kai, seven, and Jia Jia, six, arrived in Singapore in September 2012. They are here on a 10-year loan from China.

Should Jia Jia give birth, the cubs will be sent back to China when they are two years old, as part of the original agreement with China Wildlife Conservation Association, in line with the WRS’ commitment to the conservation of endangered species.