熊貓爲獲取更好的生活條件假裝懷孕

Hopes that another panda cub would soon be born in Taiwan were dashed when experts determined that signs of pregnancy displayed by a giant panda at Taipei Zoo appear to have been faked by the animal in order to secure better conditions during the summer.

臺北動物園的大熊貓爲在炎炎夏日獲取更好的生活條件，假裝懷孕跡象被專家識破後，臺灣即將出生另一隻熊貓幼崽的希望也隨之破滅。

Yuan Yuan, one of a pair given to Taiwan as gifts by the Chinese mainland in December 2008 had shown signs of pregnancy such as loss of appetite, thickening of the uterus and increased fecal progesterone concentration since June 11.

2008年12月，大陸將一對大熊貓作爲禮物送給臺灣，其中一隻雌性熊貓圓圓在6月11日表現出食慾不振、子宮變厚和排泄物黃體酮含量增加等懷孕症狀。

But panda experts flown from the mainland determined through ultrasound checks that Yuan Yuan was not pregnant, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.

然而據臺灣中央通訊社消息，大陸熊貓專家飛赴臺灣，通過超聲波檢測之後確定圓圓沒有懷孕。

The 11-year-old had been artificially inseminated on March 26 and 27 when she was on heat, according to a zoo spokesman.

動物園發言人稱，現年11歲大的圓圓在3月26日和27日處於發情期時接受了人工受孕。

The symptoms of pregnancy are already beginning to return to normal appetite levels and behavior, the spokesman said.

發言人還稱，懷孕症狀開始逐漸消退，迴歸正常食慾和行爲。

Pandas thought to be pregnant are moved into single rooms with air conditioning and round-the-clock care and also receive more fruits and bamboo.

熊貓被認爲懷孕之後，就被轉移到一個帶空調的單間，並時刻被工作人員照料，還有更多的水果和竹子。

Experts believe clever pandas display behavior similar to pregnancy to improve their quality of life after noticing the difference in treatment they receive.

專家認爲，聰明的熊貓在發現懷孕前後受到待遇的差別，爲提高生活質量會表現出類似懷孕的症狀。

Yuan Yuan, which went to Taiwan with Tuan Tuan, gave birth to her first and only cub, Yuan Zai, in July 2013. The names of the pair produce the Chinese phrase tuan yuan, which means reunion. They are among the most popular attractions at the zoo.

圓圓在2013年7月產下了唯一的幼崽圓仔，同圓圓一同來到臺灣的還有團團。這對大熊貓的命名源於中文詞“團圓”，寓意團聚，它們是園中最受歡迎動物。