PDXWildlife, Portland, OR, USA.
Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, CA, USA.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019;1200:275-308. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-23633-5_10.
The dramatic growth of the captive giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) population exemplifies how the application of scientific findings to animal care and reproductive management can improve conservation breeding outcomes. Detailed behavioral studies of giant panda estrus, pregnancy and cub rearing have demonstrated the importance of husbandry management that supports natural reproductive behavior to enhance breeding success. Natural breeding has been valuably augmented by the development of assisted reproductive techniques founded through detailed studies of the reproductive physiology of the giant panda and outlining fundamental information about reproductive seasonality, male fertility and characterization of the estrous cycle. The resultant holistic understanding of giant panda reproduction has improved reproductive success in the captive population to such an extent that it is now self-sustaining and provides surplus animals for reintroduction. Despite these significant advances, there are knowledge gaps and remaining challenges to be addressed. Pregnancy detection remains the single biggest challenge when determining if natural mating or assisted breeding have been successful. Because pregnancy can only be determined in the few weeks prior to parturition, there are gaps in understanding and detecting delayed implantation and early embryonic loss. Additionally, dynamic management practices and standard of care for reproductive assistance needs to be developed. Only large breeding centers in China have the ability to promote normal reproductive behaviors and allow mate choice for the giant panda. These challenges need to be addressed in the near future in order to maintain a self-sustaining, genetically diverse and behaviorally competent captive population. This chapter documents the development of successful giant panda managed breeding programs by focusing on three key areas, (1) the development of science-driven reproductive techniques to improve fecundity in a species where the mating system was poorly understood, (2) how targeted research and adaptive management of social settings surrounding estrus and breeding improved reproductive success, and (3) insights and solutions to challenges faced across the program's history with future directions for research.
圈养大熊猫数量的急剧增长证明了将科学发现应用于动物护理和繁殖管理可以如何改善保护繁殖的成果。对大熊猫发情、怀孕和幼仔抚养的详细行为研究表明，支持自然繁殖行为的饲养管理对于提高繁殖成功率非常重要。通过对大熊猫生殖生理学的详细研究和概述生殖季节性、雄性生育能力和发情周期特征的基本信息，开发辅助生殖技术极大地补充了自然繁殖。对大熊猫繁殖的全面了解提高了圈养种群的繁殖成功率，以至于现在已经可以自给自足，并为再引进提供了多余的动物。尽管取得了这些重大进展，但仍有知识差距和遗留的挑战需要解决。怀孕检测仍然是确定自然交配或辅助繁殖是否成功的最大挑战。由于只有在分娩前几周才能确定怀孕，因此在理解和检测延迟着床和早期胚胎丢失方面存在差距。此外，还需要制定动态管理实践和生殖辅助的护理标准。只有中国的大型繁殖中心才有能力促进大熊猫的正常繁殖行为并允许选择配偶。为了维持一个自我维持、遗传多样且行为能力强的圈养种群，这些挑战需要在不久的将来得到解决。本章通过关注三个关键领域，记录了成功的大熊猫管理繁殖计划的发展：（1）开发科学驱动的生殖技术以提高交配系统了解甚少的物种的繁殖力，（2）如何通过发情和繁殖周围社会环境的有针对性的研究和适应性管理来提高繁殖成功率，以及（3）该计划历史上面临的挑战的见解和解决方案，以及未来的研究方向。
