Sure enough, in February 2007, Xiang Xiang was found dead, most likely as a result of a fight over territory or over a female panda.

She is a female panda.

When female pandas are ready to mate, they give off a special scent and make a loud bleating noise to tell the males that they are ready.

If she has two babies, she will only raise one baby, and the other baby dies, no one really knows how the female panda chooses between the two.

In finally giving birth to a healthy cub, Ling-Ling, the National Zoo's female panda, cheers all who worry about the future of endangered species.

According to the Chinese, female pandas usually stop reproducing at the age of about 20, said Devra Kleiman, the zoo's assistant director for research.

A female panda ovulates once a year, and may raise about half a dozen babies in her lifetime if she is lucky.

Soo - a calm and collected female panda who acts as the foil for both Sooty and Sweep.

Ling-Ling, the nation's famed female giant panda, may be pregnant again, a zoo spokesman said today.

If things go to plan, an adult female panda named Ming Ming will take his place.