WASHINGTON -- After the excitement of the giant panda's expected pregnancy, the National Zoo sadly announced that it was only a false alarm.
In June, Mei Xiang showed signs of pregnancy like building a nest in her den and a loss of appetite. But it only was the result of a pseudopregnancy, which is when an animal shows false signs of pregnancy.
Giant pandas' behaviors and hormones can mimic a pregnancy even when they are experiencing a pseudopregnancy, which is what led to the confusion.
A final ultrasound on July 5 confirmed that there was no fetus, crushing the hopes of a new panda cub this year.
Despite this, Mei Xiang has already had her fair share of pregnancies. Since arriving at the National Zoo in 2000, she has already given birth to three panda cubs - Tai Shan, Bao Bao, and Bei Bei. And there is always a potential for more!
The panda house will reopen Thursday and return to normal operating hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Zoo will continue to provide updates on the panda on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using the hashtag #PandaStory.
