Staff members are turning up the heat at the Edinburgh Zoo by implementing a little "sexual healing."
According to reports, the zookeepers are trying to facilitate the mating process of two giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yuang Guang, by playing music by Marvin Gaye. Yuang Guang, the male panda, has been listening to the radio station Classic FM. The zookeepers, however, felt that Yang Guang needed something better to get him in the mood. So, they switched him to the station Smooth Radio. In cooperation, the station started playing one song a day for the panda, including "Let's Get It On."
Although it is difficult to determine the impact the music has had on the panda, a spokeswoman from the zoo claims it appears to be having a relaxing effect.
"We play easy listening radio to Yang Guang in his show-off area," she says. "He has always been more sensitive than Tian Tian to background noise, so it's settling and soothing for him to have it playing softly in the background. You can often see him sit back, relax and eat his bamboo whilst the radio is on."
But that's not the only thing the Edinburgh Zoo is doing to set the vibe. Reports indicate the zoo has implemented physical exercises, extra bamboo and even mood lighting.
It can be particularly difficult to get pandas to reproduce, given that female pandas only ovulate once per year and remain fertile just two days thereafter. This gives Yang Guang a very narrow window to prove to Tian Tian how sweet it is to be loved by him. Tian Tian has been making high-pitched chirps, however, which indicates that she is beginning her mating season.
Last year Yang Guang and Tian Tian never got together. Hopefully, that's something a little Marvin Gaye will be able to fix.
