Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Case Report: A case study on the relationship between obesity and estrus in female captive panda.
- Journal:
- Frontiers in veterinary science
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Zhou, Qiang et al.
- Affiliation:
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park · China
Abstract
This study investigated a case of abnormal estrus in a captive adult female giant panda () (X#, 130 kg) in 2024 to explore the possible relationship between overweight or obesity and estrus behavior in female giant pandas. Behavioral observations and urinary estrogen conjugate/creatinine (EC/CR) measurements revealed a significantly attenuated hormonal profile (peak EC/CR: 34.1 ng/mg vs. normal range 80-150 ng/mg) alongside muted receptivity (e.g., absent tail-lifting). Comparative analysis with historical cases of abnormal estrus (panda 2#: obesity-linked low EC/CR; panda 1#: normal EC/CR with behavioral anomalies) implicated obesity as a driver of reproductive impairment. And several actionable interventions were proposed: bamboo-based dietary reform, structured exercise protocols, and gut microbiota monitoring. This case underscores obesity as a modifiable risk factor in captive panda reproduction, urging integration of metabolic health into breeding management.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40343364/