Just so there is no confusion, it should be noted that if Washington’s female giant panda becomes pregnant, it is not clear who the father will be. The National Zoo says that the answer will require scientific analysis.
That is because Mei Xiang underwent two procedures March 30 involving semen from two pandas.
Semen used in the morning came from the zoo’s male panda, Tian Tian.
But a second procedure was carried out that evening. It involved semen from both Tian Tian and a second giant panda, named Gao Gao.
Gao Gao has sired five cubs born at the San Diego Zoo, the National Zoo said.
“The zoo will run a paternity analysis if a cub is born,” it said in a statement last week.