Zoologists at the mountainous region of Sichuan province in China once thought that Jinzhu - a panda that lived in the Woolong Nature Reserve — was a male. They even sent ‘him’ to Japan to breed with a female panda. They were depressed to see that the resulted in failures. Observers said that the two pandas showed disinterest in engaging in the sexual act. When the scientists decide to go for artificial insemination, they found out that their Chinese visitor did not have a penis!

From then on, the keepers of Jinzhu simply assumed that he/she was a hermaphrodite or simply had undeveloped sexual organs and characteristics. The Panda was declared as a male back in 1996. The whole Japan mix up happened four years later.

What’s so hard with identifying the sex of Pandas? For one, Panda Bear penis are on average only 1.2 inches long. Given the factor of the fur, it may easily be obscured.

Jinzhu had one more trick up his sleeve though. He gave birth to twins.

Wait, make that SHE gave birth to twins. As a fitting end to the mystery, Jinzhu finally reveals her true sex by having a  litter twin female cubs.

Those are two more reasons why the Panda has a fighting chance against the threat of extinction! ;)

Related Articles




Leave a reply