Giant panda pregnancy hopes dashed

● Tian Tian’s hormone levels return to normal, Edinburgh Zoo keepers say

Scotland’s giant panda Tian Tian will not give birth to cubs this year, it has been revealed. Edinburgh Zoo has announced that tests show the female panda’s pregnancy will not lead to cubs.

Tian Tian’s hormone levels and behaviour have returned to normal as the breeding cycle ends for the year.

There was great excitement earlier this summer when early tests indicated that Tian Tian was pregnant.

But zoo bosses say they have been saddened by the news that no cubs will be born at the zoo this year.

Iain Valentine, director of giant pandas at the Royal Zooity logical Society of Scotland (RZSS), owners of the zoo, said: “It is with sadness that we can confirm Tian Tian, Edinburgh Zoo’s resident female giant panda, will not give birth to cubs this year.

“Our tests show that her hormone levels and behaviour have returned to normal as the breeding cycle ends for this year.

“I would like to thank the expert team of keepers, veterinary staff and others who have shown dedication and tenac- throughout the last nine months to ensure Tian Tian received the very best roundthe-clock care.

“Her welfare is our top priority and the hard work of our expert team continues to make a significant contribution to the conservation of giant pandas internationally.”

Over the next few weeks, the zoo will be working closely with Chinese partners to review this year’s breeding season as well as scientific data from the past five years. Barbara Smith, chief executive of the RZSS, said: “There was great excitement when early tests indicated that Tian Tian was pregnant.

“Like everyone, we are sad that the pregnancy did not result in cubs this time around.”

She added: “This year our expert team has gathered more information than, which will be shared with our partners both here in Scotland and across the globe for review and learnings to be applied.

“I am incredibly proud of the work that takes place at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and we remain hopeful that successful giant panda breeding will be possible in the future.

“It is important too to emphasise the crucial role RZSS is playing in giant panda conservation success internationally.

“Last year the giant panda was reclassified from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’ in the wild, and RZSS can be justly proud of our efforts in safeguarding the future of the species, supporting over 30 conservation projects in China.” 0 Hopes had been raised that Tian Tian was pregnant

The giant panda is native to south central China and spends its life roaming and feeding in the bamboo forests of the Qinling Mountains and in Sichuan province.

It is a conservation reliant vulnerable species and is threatened by continued habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and a very low birthrate, both in the wild and in captivity.

As of December 2014, 49 giant pandas lived in captivity outside China, with individuals kept in 18 zoos in 13 different countries.