Most of the theme parks and zoos around the world have closed down due to the outbreak of COVID-19. With no one visiting, or another word, disturbing, a pair of pandas in Hong Kong is taking the time to get better acquainted with each other.

Just like the people around the world, Ying Ying and Le Le, the two pandas from Hong Kong's Ocean Park, has finally decided to give mating a try after avoiding it for the past decade.

Michael Boos, a conservation official from Ocean Park said that "Since Ying Ying and Le Le's arrival in Hong Kong in 2007 and attempts at natural mating since 2010, they, unfortunately, have yet to succeed until this year upon years of trial and learning."

Pandas are typically bad at reproducing, especially when they are in captivity. But after seeing the photos released by the park, showing the pair expressing their interest in each other is definitely giving hopes to the vets, especially it is happening during the short mating season of panda (March to May). 

"Since late March, Ying Ying began spending more time playing in the water, while Le Le has been leaving scent-markings around his habitat and searching the area for Ying Ying's scent," the park said.

Experts will now monitor Ying Ying for signs of pregnancy, though it may take some time as the gestation period for giant pandas ranges from 3 months to a year. And it can be only be detected and confirmed by an ultrasound scan 2 weeks before birth. 

However, if fertilization has occurred, the experts might be able to observe hormonal fluctuations and behavioral changes in Ying Ying as early as June.

Good luck to both Ying Ying and Le Le.

The world is watching, but not watching. No stress.

News source from The Star.