First Giant Panda Born From Frozen Sperm in China

Wildlife officials have produced the first panda cub by artificial insemination using frozen sperm, giving new hope for the unfertile bears.

Photo: First Giant Panda Born From Frozen Sperm in China

You You, a panda at the Wolong Giant Panda Research Centre in southwestern Sichuan province, gave birth after IVF treatment in what is believed to be the first successful pregnancy among the species using the frozen sperm technique, informs Telegraph.

It was the first artificial fertilization using frozen panda sperm, which was a breakthrough for breeding the endangered species, Huang said.

"It can avoid inbreeding of giant pandas and increase the diversity of the species," he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. "With the technology, we can keep the sperm frozen for decades," Huang said, reports The Week.

According to The Press Association, it is You You's third baby, and the 10th panda cub born at Wolong this year. Mr Huang said the sperm, from male panda Lolo, had been frozen for "a number of years".