First panda cub born with frozen sperm

The first successful birth of a panda cub from artificial insemination using frozen sperm was announced by China today.

The breakthrough gives a new option for the endangered animals, which are notoriously poor breeders, officials said.

Female panda You You gave birth to the new cub yesterday morning at the Wolong Giant Panda Research Centre in south-western Sichuan.

It is You You’s third baby, and the 10th panda cub born at Wolong this year.

Huang Yan, a deputy research technician with the China Panda Preservation Research Centre, said: “It is the first time ever for the world. We did try before but it failed.”

Mr Huang said the sperm, from male panda Lolo, had been frozen for “a number of years”.