Tuantuan the panda failed to swim because he was distracted by an apple . Female pandas are only on display once a week for one to three weeks . His partner , Yuanyuan , had to be artificially inseminated twice that night . Zoo was able to obtain sperm from the male panda through an operation . The pair were donated as a gift to Taiwan from mainland China in 2002 .
Tuantuan the panda failed to mate because he was distracted by an apple . Female pandas are only on heat once a year for one to three days . His partner , Yuanyuan , had to be artificially inseminated twice that night . Zoo was forced to collect sperm from the male panda through an operation . The pair were given as a gift to Taiwan from mainland China in 2008 .