Second artificial insemination on Thai giant panda

CHIANG MAI, September 29 (TNA) - Chiang Mai Zoo panda experts on Sunday had their second try at artificial insemination on Lin Hui, a female panda loaned from China, hoping that she would bear an offspring within the next three to four months. Their comments were made a day after popular Lin Ping, born to Lin Hui and Xuang Xuang on May 27, 2009, left Thailand for China on Saturday to find her new breeding couple. Lin Ping was expected to return to Chiang Mai Zoo one year later. Meanwhile, animal rights group, Friends of the Asian Elephant, announced Sunday elephant owners in Thailand would join in their demand for protection from unfair treatment by officials who had seized their elephants during inspection. Part of their demand that would be submitted to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in Bangkok, would include calls for a review to the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act 1992, in an effort to discourage elephant tusk trading. Under the proposal, owners must also inform to authorities within 90 days of owning or wishing to possess elephants. (TNA)