The second round of artificial insemination was performed on Tuesday on five-year-old Chinese female panda Lin Hui, which has been in Thailand's Chiang Mai Zoo for more than three years, in an attempt to produce a baby panda.

 

Prasertsak Boontrakulpoonthawi, head of Thailand's panda research and demonstration project, said the first round of artificial insemination performed on Monday went on well.

 

The procedure to inject semen into Lin Hui on her annual fertile period was carried out again Tuesday morning as suggested by specialists from China, Thailand and the United States, the state-run Thai News Agency reported.

 

Lin Hui, three years into their ten-year loan from China, will be under special care and given ultrasound exam to check her pregnancy. It takes three months to know if the conception is successful.

 

If Lin Hui gives birth to a baby during her stay here, Thailand will be allowed to take care of the baby panda for two years before handing it over to China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2007)