We have conducted vigorous research activities including the world's first simultaneous breeding of twins, winter births, and Husbandry training.
Bamboo-focused breeding management By reviewing the content of the giant panda's diet and making it mainly bamboo, we have been able to keep and manage the panda in a healthy condition with almost no digestive diseases. MORE Health care incorporating Husbandry Training at Husbandry training has been used since 2008 for health management and early detection of diseases with less burden on animals. It is applied in many fields including examination and breeding. MORE Mating and mating of giant pandas Pandas are difficult to breed because the days when mating is possible are only two to three days a year, and because they live alone, there are few chances for males and females to meet at the right time for mating. The Park collects various data to determine the best time for mating for the purpose of natural breeding. MORE winter delivery Generally, pandas come into estrus in spring and give birth in summer or early fall, but there are cases of pandas giving birth in winter, which is out of season. We observe such winter births and use them in our breeding research. MORE Estimated date of birth Predicting the date of birth is important for the rearing and management of parents and children in the early stages of birth. The Park estimates the birth date by focusing on three indicators based on past cases. MORE World's First Simultaneous Breeding of Twins in Captivity In the 1980s, although the probability of having twins in one birth was as high as 45%, the survival rate of panda cubs was very low at about 35% because only one cub could be raised. Therefore, improving the survival rate of twins was a major challenge. MORE Successful training of underweight children A baby panda was born in the Park in August 2018 with a low body weight and low body temperature of 75g and 31.5°C. Both daytime and nighttime staff worked together to manage the baby and mother and were able to successfully raise the animal. MORE Publications Research activities in the fields of giant panda breeding management, breeding research, and veterinary medicine have been reported at various conferences, including those organized by the China Giant Panda Breeding Technical Committee and the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) in Japan. MORE
