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The Berlin Zoo has announced that its 11-year-old female giant panda Meng Meng is pregnant again with twins and, if everything goes well, could give birth by the end of the month.

德国柏林动物园当地时间8月13日宣布，11岁的旅德大熊猫“梦梦”再次怀上双胞胎，如果一切顺利的话，大熊猫双胞胎预计将于8月底出生。

The announcement was made on Monday after zoo authorities conducted an ultrasound examination over the weekend that showed the developing fetuses. Giant panda experts from China arrived in Berlin on Sunday to assist with preparations for the ultrasound.

柏林动物园于周末对“梦梦”进行了超声波检查，检查结果显示胎儿正在发育。中国专家也已赶到柏林，为后续工作提供支持。

Meng Meng was artificially inseminated in March. According to the zoo, female giant pandas are only fertile for approximately 72 hours each year.

“梦梦”于三月进行了人工授精。据动物园介绍，雌性大熊猫每年的受孕时间为大约72小时。

"One heartbeat could initially be made out on the ultrasound equipment, and shortly thereafter a second as well," the zoo announcement said, adding that the fetuses are now 2.5 centimeters long, but will grow significantly by the end of the month.

“最初超声扫描检测到一个胎儿的心跳，不久后又发现了另一个。”动物园表示目前两个胎儿身长约2.5厘米，但到本月底将继续增长。

Gestation generally takes three to six months, but the zoo said that dormancy—a period of up to several months in giant pandas during which an egg remains suspended in the mother's uterus and does not continue to develop—was the reason for the delay in confirming Meng Meng's pregnancy.

大熊猫妊娠通常需要三到六个月，但动物园表示，大熊猫休眠状态（此期间卵子悬浮在母亲的子宫中，不会继续发育）是“梦梦”前几次孕检全都没有发现的原因。

Zoo veterinarian Franziska Sutter told media that the pregnancy was still at a risky phase.

园方兽医弗朗齐丝卡·祖特尔说告诉媒体，“梦梦”怀孕期间仍处于危险阶段。

"Amid all the enthusiasm, we have to realize that this is a very early stage of the pregnancy and that a so-called resorption, or death, of the embryo is still possible at this stage," she said.

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