It Looks Like Panda Love ...

I received an e-mail with the official line from the Zoo last night:

Mei Xiang, our female giant panda, has begun to show signs of going into estrus early this year. In an effort to reduce stress to both her and Tian Tian, her mate, during this critical mating period, The Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat will be closed to the public for the next few days.

They pair are still viewable (sporadically) via Pandacam 1 and Pandacam 2, but it could be that the bears are being a bit discreet.

So, with apologies to Willis Allen Ramsey, America and, of course, The Captain & Tennille:

Panda, panda candlelight
Doin' the town and doin' it right
In the evenin'
It's pretty pleasin'

Panda Mei, Panda Tian
Do the jitterbug out in panda land
And they shimmy
And Tianny's not so skinny

And they whirled and they twirled and they tangoed
Singin' and jingin' the jango
Floatin' like the heavens above
It looks like panda love

Nibbling on bamboo, chewin' on leaf-eater biscuits
Tianny says to Mei, "Honey, would you please be my missus?"
And she say yes
With her kisses

And now he's ticklin' her fancy
Bitin' her tail
Muzzle to muzzle, now anything goes
As they wriggle, and Mei starts to giggle

And they whirled and they twirled and they tangoed
Singin' and jingin' the jango
Floatin' like the heavens above
It looks like panda love

La da da da da ...