Successful breeding of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) following artificial insemination was achieved at the Ueno Zoo in 2 consecutive years (1985 and 1986). The first cub, born in June 1985, unfortunately died 43 hours after birth from being crushed by the mother panda; the second cub, born in June 1986, has been growing in good health. Electroejaculation and artificial insemination procedures were performed after immobilization with diazepam (0.1 mg/kg) and ketamine HCL (4.0-5.0 mg/kg). Semen of the male panda was collected by electroejaculation using a rectal probe with a diameter of 2.0 cm and with eight rings as electrodes. Stimulation of the male was given with 3 V (30-40 mA) over a 5-sec period with 5-sec intervals. The female panda exhibited estrus between late February and early March in 1985 and also between middanuary and early February 1986. Increased excretion of urinary total estrogen showed coincidentally at maximum behavioral estrus, and a gradual rise of pregnanediol level was followed by artificial insemination. The gestational length for the first pregnancy was 110 days and that of the second 121 days.

Total estrogen and pregnanediol concentrations in urine samples from one female giant panda were measured from 1991–2000. This female experienced her first estrus at the age of 5 years 3 months in 1991. From 1992 on, estrous behavior was observed every year between January and June, and the peak values of total estrogen ranged from 28.3 ng/ml in 1992 to 85.6 ng/ml in 1999. The female's estrus in 2000 was very weak, and she died in July 2000. She was artificially inseminated every year from 1994 to 1999, but no pregnancy occurred. The concentration of pregnanediol rose 3–11 weeks after the total estrogen concentration peaked, and reached peak concentration 78–111 days after the peak of total estrogen concentration. The peak value of pregnanediol ranged from 0.72 to 1.79 µg/ml. It was not possible to accurately predict pregnancy based on pregnanediol concentrations. Zoo Biol 22:383–387, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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In the Shinobazu Pond of Ueno Park in Tokyo, death occurred to almost one half of the aquatic fowls inhabiting in June, 1984, and to more than 60 migratory wild ducks in fall and winter up to March, 1985. Dead birds were found to have manifested motorial paralysis characteristic of botulism as a main symptom. Clostridium botulinum type C1 toxin was demonstrated in the blood of 7 ducks and wild ducks which died in June. C. botulinum type C was isolated from the contents of the gizzard in two of the seven. The toxin was also demonstrated in the blood of 23 wild ducks which died in November, December, and January, and this organism isolated from the contents of the gizzard and cecum of 7 and 14 waterfowls, respectively. Botulinum toxin type C1 was also recognized in mud almost all over the pond in July and February.