My goodness, trying to keep up with all of the current news with giant pandas has been a full-time job lately. I am continuing my coverage of the Wen Chuan earthquake that has totally disrupted operation for the good people at the China Conservation and Research Center at Wolong. Am working on Chapter 4 of the Wolong Journey and should have that out by the end of the week.
Of course, we just celebrated Le Le of Memphis and Mei Xiang of the National Zoo birthdays and at the same time you got an update on Mei's possible pregnancy. Mei is not the only U.S. panda who may be expecting this year.
Beautiful Lun Lun of Zoo Atlanta is also going through regular sonograms and urine analysis to track her progesterone levels for any signs of a pregnancy. The photo of Lun Lun was just taken this last weekend by local Atlanta resident bob2cleo of flickr. And thanks to them, we will have the latest photos and news of Lun's on-going condition. 
The second photo is Lun with her little cub from two years ago, Mei Lan. Lun's partner who's sperm was used in the artificial insemination is Yang Yang, that's him atop the boulder looking over his territory.
Zoo Atlanta also keeps a regular blog going on all of the pandas called Lun Lun and cub updates. They are presently making preparations for the possible birth of a cub and having extra items on hand, such as incubators, formula bottles, blankets and much, much more. The zoo says "We hope we will not have to use these items, as the best option is for Lun Lun to raise her offspring and we think she will - but it never hurts to be prepared" Kate Roca, Carnivore Keeper II
Here is the most recent photo of Lun's darling cub Mei Lan. She will be two years old on September 6, 2008. They also have a 'live' web cam
page and have just reinstalled the camera in Lun's den area in the event she does have a cub you will be able to observe her.
