CHIANG MAI - Giant panda Lin Hui has suffered another miscarriage after 148 days of pregnancy that began with artificial insemination.
Baripat Siriarunrat, chief researcher at the Chiang Mai Zoo's panda project, said on Tuesday that his team had predicted - based on progesterone levels and changes to her genitals -- that the 13-year-old panda might give birth between Oct 9 and 28.
But hormone and physical signs since early this month indicated the bear had suffered a miscarriage and her behaviour has returned to normal.
This was the second time Lin Hui has failed to carry to term a pregnancy begun through artificial insemination. The last attempt came in September 2013.
This time, the team inseminated Lin Hui on June 21 with sperm from her mate, Xuang Xuang, in hopes of a success like in 2009, when she gave birth to Lin Ping, a female.
Early this year the government reached an agreement with China allowing Thailand to keep giant pandas Xuang Xuang and Lin Hui on loan until 2023.
The pair, given by the Chinese government under a deal on panda research and conservation, have been living at the Chiang Mai Zoo since October 2003 on a 10-year agreement.