Romance in the air for Kai Kai and Jia Jia

Giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia engaging in a courtship dance yesterday in their den at the River Safari. Keepers and veterinarians are hoping they will mate successfully this season, after having failed to do so in the previous two years. This time
PHOTO: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

Giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia engaging in a courtship dance yesterday in their den at the River Safari. Keepers and veterinarians are hoping they will mate successfully this season, after having failed to do so in the previous two years. This time, they were brought together after a hormonal check indicated that female Jia Jia was ready for natural mating. But those hoping to study their mating ritual will be disappointed - visitors will not be able to view the two pandas in their exhibits from today to Sunday. Kai Kai and Jia Jia have made their home in Singapore since 2012, being on loan from China for 10 years.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 31, 2017, with the headline Romance in the air for Kai Kai and Jia Jia. Subscribe