Fingers crossed for baby Pandas

"There's a possibility that Linhui might have ovulated twice. She may give births to twins," Zoological Park Organisation directorgeneral Sophon Damnui said yesterday.

Two artificial inseminations have just been conducted for the panda couple.

"Every step in the process went smoothly because we have been monitoring the pandas' behaviour for a long time," Sophon said.

Chuang Chuang and Linhui flew in from China in late 2003 and over the past few years, experts have tried all sorts of ways to coax the female panda into getting pregnant.

Porn didn't work…

Tactics have included controlling Chuang Chuang's weight and showing him panda porn. Artificial insemination was tried after natural mating didn't work.

Sophon said that officials would soon be dispatched to China to be trained as panda midwives and baby panda carers. A snow machine is also on its way from the United States to Thailand.