What to Expect when You're Not Expecting

Being cute enough to get saved from extinction is playing the survival game on nightmare mode. And yet, this monotone creature beat it. Flawlessly.

But why stop at surviving when you can thrive?

Some pandas have learned that “expecting” really means expecting: more treats, nonstop attention, and a private den. They display all the signs – hormonal shifts, reduced appetite, extra rest – even when there’s no cub on the way.

This behavior is called pseudopregnancy – or the art of the scam, panda style.