Edinburgh Zoo: Panda may be about to give birth

IT was the day that cautious optimism turned to palpable excitement for thousands of staff and visitors at Edinburgh Zoo as the hope that Britain’s only female panda could give birth took a step closer to becoming a reality.

Experts are monitoring Tian Tian to see if she is pregnant. Picture: Esme Allen

Experts have said that Tian Tian, aged nine, has continued to shown signs that she is pregnant - and that if so the birth could come at any time.

The zoo has brought in new incubators and given staff access to the enclosure’s cameras at home to allow her to be monitored around the clock.

Tian Tian’s progesterone levels continue to remain high and she is currently very sleepy, which are signs that she could be pregnant.

Experts are monitoring Tian Tian to see if she is pregnant. Picture: Esme Allen

Even then her body could reabsorb the foetus or it could be stillborn.

However, staff say they are cautiously confident and preparing for a newborn cub.

If the birth is going to happen it is likely to be between now and about 10 September, the zoo said.

Haiping Hu, a birthing specialist from the China Conservation and Research Centre, has arrived in Scotland. She has helped to deliver baby pandas and has particular experience of twins.

Unlike humans and many other species, panda twins are as likely to arrive as a single cub, but Tian Tian would only be able to look after one, leaving staff to hand rear the second.

Iain Valentine, director of Giant Pandas for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which owns Edinburgh Zoo, said: “What we are seeing in Tian Tian’s hormones is encouraging, but we still cannot guarantee a pregnancy or successful birth.

“If indeed she is pregnant, this is an extremely risky time for panda pregnancies.

“Female giant pandas can actually reabsorb any foetuses or reject them if pregnant.

“If she is pregnant and carries to full term, we believe a cub or cubs could be born anytime over the next two weeks – although there are no certainties we must err on the side of caution and be on red alert from today.”

Meanwhile, visitors are flocking to the zoo amid growing excitement about her possible pregnancy.

Tickets to see the pair are being snapped up in their thousands. Pre-booked viewing slots for the pair are sold out until Thursday according to the zoo’s website, with only a limited number of tickets released each morning on a first come, first served basis.

Visitors had been warned that Tian Tian was likely to stay in her den due to being sleepy.

But she surprised many after emerging into the enclosure on several occasions through the morning and into the afternoon, clambering up her climbing frame and hanging off the edge in full view of the groups of visitors.

Barbara Hodgson, 31, from Darlington, Country Durham, brought her daughters Jessica, 10, Courtney, 7, and their friend Ella Wise, 10, to the zoo, saying it was the highlight of their holiday in Scotland this week.

“We have had a great time staying in Dunbar for the past few days but we thought from the start you can’t come to Scotland without seeing Edinburgh Zoo”, she told The Scotsman at the enclosure.

“We were told we might not see Tian Tian at all and were a bit gutted so you can imagine how delighted the girls where when she came out and begin climbing all over the place.”

Courtney added: “It was great, just the whole thing. I particularly liked it when she hung off the edge of the frame with her paws dangling down, it was really funny.”

Tim Donald, 46, from Trinity, north Edinburgh, brought his daughter Scarlett, 11, and son Angus, 2, to see the pandas for the first time.

“We didn’t expect to see Tian Tian actually as we were told she was very tired, so it was a rather serendipitous moment when she appeared and the children got to see her.”

He added: “There is definitely a sense of expectation among the visitors, the feeling that something special might happen. And we’ll certainly be coming back if it does.”

In contrast, male Yang Guang, aged nine, who keepers say is a fan of Smooth FM, was nowhere to be seen and spent the day sleeping.

If Tian Tian gives birth to a cub it will be raised by its mother in Edinburgh over the next two years.

The cub would be displayed to the public until 1 January 2014 after having a chance to grow strong and develop.

If Tian Tian gives birth to twins the second would be hand reared by staff before being sent to a panda creche in China, probably earlier than the two year mark, the zoo said.

Panda cubs weigh about 100 grams, are roughly the size of a hamster, and are completely pink for the first few weeks of their lives.

Tian Tian was artificially inseminated in April with semen from Yang Guang and Bao Bao, who died last year in Berlin Zoo aged 34.

Tony Bradford, the zoo’s visitor experience coordinator, said that crowds had been visibly excited at the possible pregnancy.

He added: “The hanging off the branches and energy being shown could be a sign because - if she is pregnant - she will become agitated the nearer the birth.

“Hopefully that’s what we’re seeing here.”

PANDA TIMELINE

Here is a timeline of events in the lives of giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang.

• August 24 2003: Tian Tian born and reared at Ya’an reserve in Chengdu, China. Yang Guang born 10 days earlier.

2011: December 4: Pandas arrive in Scotland on Boeing 777F flight dubbed “panda express”.

• December 16: Hundreds of visitors queue to see pandas on display at Edinburgh Zoo for first time.

2012: January 12: Yang Guang found to be suffering from colic and is temporarily removed from public view. Tian Tian later suffers from same ailment.

• February 1: Zoo says visitor numbers up 200% thanks to pandas. Around 70,000 people have seen Tian Tian and Yang Guang since their arrival.

• April 3: Pandas brought together for first time in “love tunnel” as Tian Tian judged ready to mate.

• April 5: Zoo says “sparks flew” between the pandas but they fail to mate.

• December 2: Just before the pandas’ first anniversary at the zoo, keepers say they have had more than 500,000 visitors including Nicole Kidman and the Princess Royal.

2013: February 28: Surveillance cameras (“panda cams”) placed in enclosure to monitor the animals as mating season approaches.

• April 17: Keepers wait for Tian Tian’s hormone levels to peak before reunion with Yang Guang.

• April 21: Zoo announces that female artificially inseminated after it displays behaviour not ‘’conducive to mating’’.

• July 15: Rise in Tian Tian’s progesterone levels detected.

• August 9: Keepers say Tian Tian showing signs that she is expecting cub.

• August 14: Yang Guang celebrates 10th birthday with lie-in and meal of his favourite variety of bamboo.

• August 26: Zoo announces that Tian Tian has been placed on 24-hour surveillance after latest hormone tests reveal she could be pregnant.