万花筒 Kaleidoscope 2007-05-06&07, 一切为了熊猫(在线收听

They're cute, playful, cuddly, but apparently, not so passionate, so researchers in China have found a way to get male pandas to put down their bamboo, get out of their trees and get in the mood.

We videotape pandas who mate successfully and play that for pandas who don't know how to do it.

Yes, that's right, panda porn. The theory is simple, show pandas like Lulu how it's done, so he can make the most of the three days every year when females are ready to mate. And it's not just the visuals but also the sounds of panda loving that does the job. And Lulu is raring to go.

Scientists here at China's Wolong Research Center have found what's good on tape is even better live, taking pandas who may be a little shy to watch others who aren't. Pandas also regularly swap panda partners, so each finds that someone special.

All of this has led to a panda baby boom with 20 cubs, including this little guy, he's not so little, called Fido, being born here in the past year alone and that's more than ever before.

Zhang Hemin, the park's director, boasts his breeding program now has almost 100% success rate.

When you look at this, do you feel like a proud father?
Yes, I'm proud of this.

But not everything has worked. They tried Viagra once. It proved just too much for your average bear.

They stayed excited for a way too long.

Even so, after teetering on the edge of the extinction, the future for the giant panda is looking hopeful and a little bit frisky.

John Vause, CNN, Wolong, China.
  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/wanhuatong/2007/42014.html