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Posted
06/20/11
Inside the National Zoo's Hormone Lab (Giant Panda Pregnancy Watch)
Produced by: Smithsonian Videos
Partners: National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Overview

When animal care staff at the Smithsonian's National Zoo need to know when to breed their pandas or when to expect a cub they turn to the Endocrine (Hormones) Research Lab at the Zoo's Front Royal, Virginia. This facilitylab—one of the largest in the world—is dedicated to enhancing the reproduction and well-being of animals living in zoos and in the wild. Lab technician Sarah Putman explains one of the most frequent questions asked about the pandas: Why is there no panda pregnancy test?

Last updated: June 20, 2011