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Edinburgh panda 'not expecting a cub'
Giant panda Tian Tian is not expecting a cub, keepers at Edinburgh Zoo have confirmed.
Zookeeper: Panda 'sticking to normal routine' so far
A zookeeper at Edinburgh Zoo, where it is hoped that Tian Tian the giant panda may be preparing to give birth, has said that so far she is "sticking to her normal routine".
Sharon Hatton said that Tian Tian is "doing very well" but that the zookeepers are "not seeing any changes" to suggest that a birth is imminent.
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Tian Tian seeming relaxed ahead of expected birth
Tian Tian is looking rather relaxed this morning, despite news that she may be about to give birth to the UK's first giant panda baby.
Timeline: Tian Tian's pregnancy
December 2011
Tian Tian (meaning Sweetie) and Yang Guang (Sunshine) arrive in Scotland from Ya'an reserve in Chengdu, China.
April 2012
The pair are introduced at Edinburgh Zoo and shown to a specially made "love tunnel", but they only go as far as wrestling.
February 2013
The zoo launches a “panda-cam” so people across the world can watch the two giant pandas in the run-up to mating season.
April 2013
After failing to show signs that she is ready to mate, Tian Tian is artificially inseminated.
June 2013
The zoo's plans to carry out an ultrasound to see if Tian Tian is pregnant are shelved because it is deemed too risky to sedate her.
August 2013
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland reveals that hormone changes indicate Tian Tian may be pregnant.
- ITV Report
Edinburgh Zoo set for historic panda baby birth
'Too early to tell' if giant panda definitely pregnant
Edinburgh Zoo has said "not to get too excited yet" over rumours that its resident female giant panda may be pregnant. Tian Tian is one of only two giant pandas in the UK, and was artificially inseminated in April.
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Edinburgh Zoo's giant panda 'may be pregnant'
Edinburgh Zoo's resident female panda Tian Tian may be pregnant, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has revealed.
A second hormone rise in progesterone was confirmed on Wednesday, which indicates she may be expecting a cub or experiencing a pseudo pregnancy, after being artificially inseminated in April.
If there is a cub, it could be born between late August and September.
Giant pandas get back to their normal routine
Giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang were out and about at Edinburgh Zoo today following an artificial insemination procedure that took place over the weekend.
Veterinarians will conduct an ultrasound scan on Tian Tian in the summer to see if she is pregnant.
Zoo reveals more about panda artificial insemination
Edinburgh Zoo has revealed more about the artificial insemination of Tian Tian - the UK's only female giant panda - after she failed to mate with the zoo's other panda Yang Guang.
A combination of frozen and fresh semen was used belonging to Yang Guang and another panda called Bao Bao.
According to the zoo, using multiple samples allies with the panda’s natural mating strategy to maximise the chance of successful breeding.
Iain Valentine, director of giant pandas, said: "It would have been amazing if the pandas had mated naturally, however artificial insemination is the next best thing for the overall global conservation effort and the individual biology of Tian Tian our female.
"Like IVF, artificial insemination is essentially an opportunity for science to give nature a helping hand".
Zoo: Ultrasound on panda to be conducted in summer
Veterinarians will conduct an ultrasound scan on Edinburgh Zoo's female panda Tian Tian in the summer to see if she is expecting cubs.
Specialists artificially inseminated Tian Tian after she didn't display any interest in the zoo's other panda Yang Guang.
Zoo keepers say they remain hopeful that they will have panda cubs by September.
