Although many scientists have been worried about the low sex drive of giant pandas in zoos, going so far as to rely on artificial insemination to ensure the survival of the endangered species, a new study conducted at the China Research and Conservation Centre for the Giant Panda suggests that the answer could be as simple as letting pandas choose their own mates.
"Giant pandas paired with preferred partners have significantly higher copulation and birth rates," the researchers wrote.
Although pandas are usually given mates based on genetic profiling, this method of matching typically leads to situations where the pandas must be pushed to show even a small amount of sexual interest in the mate selected for them, according to a news release.
The scientists measured the "mate preference behavior" of the pandas in the study and found that reproductive performance was the highest in pairs where both the males and females showed mutual preference.
"Mate incompatibility can impede captive breeding programmes by reducing reproductive rates," the researchers wrote. "It is therefore surprising that mate preferences have not figured more prominently in captive breeding programmes. The future of conservation breeding will not take place in a test tube."
The findings were published in the Dec.15 issue of Nature Communications.
