Panda "Lin Hui" expected to give birth soon

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND, January 3 (TNA) - Veterinarians at Chiang Mai Zoo in the Thai North have kept Lin Hui, the female panda loaned to Thailand from China, under a close watch around the clock to prepare for her delivery of a new baby panda, expected by next week. Kanchai Sanwong, Director of Chiang Mai Zoo, told journalists on Friday that Lin Hui, having been pregnant after her second artificial insemination last year, now appears perfectly healthy, namely eating and behaving normally. Kanchai acknowledged the giant female panda also started showing signs that she will soon be ready to give birth to her second baby panda. The Chiang Mai Zoo has, meanwhile, prepared healthy meals for Lin Hui and a place to raise the new panda cub, while coordinating with a team of giant panda experts from China who will give advice and help the zoo's staff take care of the new panda cub, especially in case Lin Hui cannot produce enough milk. The delivery of the new panda cub is considered good news for Thai people in Chiang Mai and others nationwide, as a New Year present for them. The panda house in the Chiang Mai Zoo remains open for international visitors who want to catch glimpses of both Lin Hui and her mate, Xuang Xuang, as usual. The panda couple, Xuang Xuang and Lin Hui, both loaned from China as animal friendship ambassadors to Thailand, gave birth to their first female panda cub, "Lin Ping", on May 27, 2009. Lin Ping was then sent back to China for mating late last year. (TNA)