The encounter of Qing Qing and Ha Lei was filmed by one of the panda keepers. The researchers at the Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding played the mating tape in front of pandas in its custody in hopes that they will do the same. So far, pandas are sexually active for only a few days each year. That would mean that the panda mating season is extremely short.
“Here you can see that the female is very co-operative,” said Hou Rong who is a reproduction specialist. She is deemed as the “Goddess of Fertility” at the research center.
In the video, the two pandas wrestle with each other. While the tape showed that the female was cooperative. But, the female was more than being cooperative. In the tape, Qing Qing the female panda attacked the male.
It would look as aggressive behavior is normal for pandas after they have mated. Researchers explain that pandas seem to not know how to start mating. They say that it is not uncommon for females to attack males after the mating ritual.
For both males and females, their biological clocks are only active for between two to three days a year.
Researchers have the difficult task of timing everything to get their pandas together on the right days for mating. The tape is to get the pandas in the mood. It seems understandable on the part of the researchers because there are only 2,000 pandas left worldwide.
Unfortunately, it would look that the video was ineffective. While some of the pandas were interested in mating, other pandas would rather eat or rest. It would look as if the researchers are back at square one when trying to get pandas together for the 2-3 days out of the year where they do have interest in mating.