Panda bumpwatch: is UK’s first panda cub on its way?
Edinburgh Zoo’s female panda is showing signs that she may be pregnant and could give birth next month, according to keepers.
Tian Tian has been feeling broody and her hormone levels have changed. But keepers will not know if she is expecting until days before she gives birth, which could be at the end of August or September.
The giant panda has been artificially inseminated before, but Edinburgh Zoo is hoping she could strike lucky on this third attempt. Iain Valentine, director of the zoo’s giant panda programme, said that she could even be expecting twins from two fathers, as two male pandas were part of the insemination process.
Positive signs include changes to Tian Tian’s protein levels and an increase in her progesterone hormone levels, the zoo said.
Her keepers have also noticed a change in her behaviour, including lack of appetite, moodiness and “nesting” behaviour.
But the zoo is being cautious as it has not been able to carry out an ultrasound and will not know for certain until shortly before the panda gives birth.
“Confirming a female panda’s pregnancy is never straightforward and we would encourage people to try not to get too excited just yet – I know it is easier said than done though!”, said Chris West, CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
Popular attraction
Tian Tian and the zoo’s male, Yang Guang, are the UK’s only pair of giant pandas. The pandas arrived from China in December 2011 and have been a popular attraction with visits from around 500,000 people in their first year.
The hope was that the pair would mate naturally, but that was not attempted as scientists decided that Tian Tian showed signs that were not “conducive to mating”.
The zoo has been working with a team of international experts to determine whether Tian Tian is expecting a cub.
Mr Valentine told Good Morning Scotland: “The indications are good. What has happened is she has had the secondary rise in progesterone.
“That can mean one of two things – she is either pregnant or she has now entered the period of her pseudo-pregnancy. There are more tests to be done, so at this time things are looking good but it can change.”