RapportFondation_2026_V03 Pages LIGHT EN - Flipbook - Page 61
2025 REPORT
AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
DEVELOP RELIABLE PREGNANCY TESTS TO CONFIRM GESTATION
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BIOLOGICAL SIGNALS REGULATING EMBRYONIC DIAPAUSE
PREDICT FERTILE PERIODS AND BIRTHS WITH GREATER ACCURACY
RECENT PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS:
IN OCTOBER 2025, A NEW STUDY BY COOLS ET AL., PUBLISHED IN SCIENTIFIC REPORTS UNDER THE
SUPERVISION OF DR. JELLA WAUTERS, PROVIDED IMPORTANT NEW INSIGHTS INTO GIANT PANDA
REPRODUCTION.
IN THIS SPECIES, IT CAN BE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH A TRUE PREGNANCY FROM
A PSEUDOPREGNANCY, A HORMONAL CONDITION IN WHICH THE BODY DISPLAYS SIGNS OF
PREGNANCY DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF A DEVELOPING EMBRYO. BY ANALYSING URINE SAMPLES
FROM SEVERAL FEMALES, RESEARCHERS IDENTIFIED NEW BIOMARKERS THAT CAN DISTINGUISHING
BETWEEN THESE TWO STATES MUCH EARLIER THAN PREVIOUSLY POSSIBLE.
THESE FINDINGS COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE PREGNANCY MONITORING AND REPRESENT AN
IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN THE CONSERVATION OF THIS ICONIC ENDANGERED SPECIES.
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