Panda at National Zoo Thought to Be Pregnant

Ling-Ling, the aging giant panda whose 16-year stay at the National Zoo has been marked by four pregnancies but no surviving cub, is thought to be pregnant again and could give birth within three weeks, a zoo spokesman said Sunday.

Zoo spokesman Thai Rubin said Ling-Ling’s urine has shown hormonal changes indicative of pregnancy since she and longtime companion Hsing-Hsing mated in early April. But panda specialists at the zoo have stopped testing Ling-Ling to reduce disruptions to her routine.