How Do Giant Pandas Find Mates?

How Do Giant Pandas Find Mates

In the wild, giant pandas typically reach sexual maturity between the ages of 5.5 and 7.5 years, which is when they are ready to mate. They only go into heat once a year, from March to May. During this time, adult female giant pandas emit a distinct scent that indicates their estrus, and their calls change from their usual sounds. Male giant pandas, attracted by the scent and sounds, will come to investigate.

Once a sufficient number of male pandas gather, the female will climb a tree to observe the proceedings. At this point, the males begin their displays. Competing for the attention of the female involves two main parts. In the wild, survival is challenging, and giant pandas, like many other animals, understand the principle of “small gaining over large.” Thus, they will first emit dog-like barking sounds and try to raise their volume. This serves two purposes: to warn surrounding male competitors and to demonstrate their strength to the female: “Look how loud my call is; see how strong I am.”

If the warning does not deter the competition, the actual “fighting” begins. Stimulated by hormones, these male competitors, with high levels of testosterone, will showcase their fighting skills and aggressively attack each other. The female panda in the tree will periodically cheer for the males. This isn’t merely for entertainment; by extending the “evaluation” period, she aims to select the best partner to ensure strong offspring.

After the fighting ends, the winner will call out to express interest in the female. If the female panda accepts, she will respond with a sound similar to that of a bleating sheep. Following this, the two pandas will enjoy their time together (First Time in China: Two Released Giant Pandas “Dating” Captured on Camera).

For captive giant pandas, keepers first consult the “Giant Panda Pedigree.” This pedigree, created in 1991 and continuously updated, serves as an identity record for captive pandas, documenting their names, identification numbers, birth dates, birthplaces, and parental information. Researchers use this information to select suitable mates before the breeding season arrives, following the principle that the further the blood relationship, the better. Once suitable matches are identified, the keepers arrange for the pandas to interact through their enclosures. Only after confirming mutual acceptance will they open the cages to allow the pandas to interact more closely.