Thai expat panda to father future Chinese pandas, artificially

Following the birth of 2009's first panda cub in Thailand (on May 29 at the Chiang Mai Zoo), Chinese experts have now expressed their intention to make sure the vitality of the father gets passed on to all the pandaettes in China.

They will be taking the sperm of giant panda Chuang Chuang - the father of the newborn - back to the motherland for future breeding via artificial insemination.

According to Xinhua, the cub has been monitored by panda experts since its birth and has been reported to be in top physical condition and is developing as it should. It too was conceived through artificial insemination.

The success of the artificial impregnation is a reassuring sign for future breeding programs, which are expected to begin next year in China. Chuang Chuang and spouse Lin Hui will continue to mate both naturally and artificially - the next artificial inseminations for Lin Hui are projected for 2011 and 2012.