Panda Fakes Pregnancy to Get Extra Attention

This picture taken on July 17, 2014 shows giant panda Ai Hin sitting in its enclosure at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre in Chengdu, in southwest China's Sichuan province.

A scheduled event to watch the world’s first live broadcast of a panda giving birth has been cancelled, after it was discovered 6-year old Ai Hin had been faking her pregnancy. Researchers believe she did this to receive special attention, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre, the panda had what they call a ‘phantom pregnancy’ which is not uncommon for the endangered animals when in captivity. The symptoms include prenatal behaviours and progestational hormone changes.

The expert says some pandas, even when not pregnant, will realize the special perks given to them and continue on faking their behaviours to improve their lives.

When a panda is thought to be pregnant, they are moved into a private air conditioned enclosure and receive extra food and round the clock care, an expert at the panda centre told the news agency.