BANGKOK, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand's northern
province of Chiang Mai has prepared to celebrate the birth of a baby panda,
according to Thanapath Pongpamorn, Chiang Mai Zoo Director on Thursday.
On Wednesday morning, Lin Hui, the female panda in the zoo delivered her
first baby, which has become the first panda born in Thailand.
The zoo will arrange congratulation posters for the newly-born panda, while
Thais will be invited to send congratulation cards to the panda family at the
zoo, said Thanapath.
Lin Hui and her baby are healthy and Lin Hui has taken care of her first
baby very well, said Prasertsak Boontragoolpoontawee, head of the zoo's panda
section, adding that Lin Hui had her baby in her arm for the whole Wednesday
night.
At least the first three months, the zoo's visitors will see the newly-born
panda through closed circuit television since during these first three months
the baby panda will be in an incubator to ensure its physical strength, said
Thanapath.
Meanwhile, Thailand's Zoological Park Organization Director Sophon Damnui
said that it is possible Thailand will negotiate with China to extend a period
of maintaining the newly-born panda for more than two years.
According to a loan contract between the government of China and Thailand,
the newly-born panda can live its life in Thailand for only two years.
Lin Hui and male panda Xuang Xuang have been on loan from China to the
Chiang Mai Zoo since 2003, as part of a panda research program. The loan
agreement will see the two pandas returned to China after 10 years.
"Thailand will inform China that Thais love the pandas and would like to
see the baby to be with its parents for more than two years in Thailand," said
Sophon.
On Feb. 18, 2009, Lin Hui was impregnated with artificial insemination
after all efforts to arouse male Xuang Xuang's interest in mating had failed.
However, it has remained possible that Lin Hui will deliver one or two more
babies, based on her behaviors, according to these senior officials.
"With in the next 50 hours, the Zoo's vet team will closely monitor Lin Hui
for possible delivery of more babies," said Prasertsak.
