Thai zoo disappointed by panda's pseudo pregnancy

CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Aug 16 (Reuters) A disappointed Thai zoo plans to put a Chinese-lent male panda on a diet again before deciding whether to replace him, after artificial insemination failed to impregnate his partner, an official said today.

Despite symptoms of pregnancy after she was artificially inseminated four months ago, an ultrasound examination showed Lin Hui was not pregnant, Sophon Dumnui, head of Thailand's zoological body, told reporters.

Zoo keepers in the northern city of Chiang Mai artificially inseminated Lin Hui in April after her male partner, Chuang Chuang, failed to perform despite video ''panda porn'' aimed at teaching him how to impregnate her.

''We are sorry that we can't actually make her pregnant, only a pseudo pregnancy,'' Sophon said. The insemination might have been too late or Chuang Chuang might not have sufficient semen for natural coupling, he added.

Before the next mating season, Chuang Chuang would have to cut his weight by 17 kg to 120 kg after an intensive diet got him down from 137 kg earlier this year to avoid crushing his partner, Sophon said.

''He is too fat. That's why his sperm isn't so strong,'' Sophon said. ''There is a possibility that we may find a replacement for Chuang Chuang.'' The couple, on loan from China, are a major draw at the zoo, but have shown little inclination to mate despite being kept in separate enclosures since December in the hope it would make them more lustful.

China has used the video technique with its pandas, which are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity.

REUTERS SV HS1653