A giant panda at the Edinburgh Zoo has conceived after it was artificially inseminated early in 2014.
While everyone is excited about Tian Tian's conception, experts said it still does not mean that she is pregnant technically. Authorities are still unsure whether or not she is pregnant because the embryo is not immediately implanted in the womb of pandas. Giant panda eggs are not implanted immediately on the female's uterine wall but rather float in the reproductive tract for various periods.
UK's only female panda, Tian Tian, was inseminated artificially in April of 2014 after she and partner Yang Guang failed to naturally mate. Zoo keepers are hopeful that the third time will push through after the pair did not mate in 2012 and Tian Tian lost the fetus late into her pregnancy last year. Her pregnancy was the second most watched pregnancy of the year, next to Kate Middleton. Tian Tian (Sweetie) is estimated to be pregnant in August.
"Technically pregnancy has not happened yet," Giant Pandas, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland director Iain Valentine said. "There are many more significant developments still to take place. Timings are all approximate, but we have just seen a secondary rise in progesterone in early July, so if all still remains on track, in 20 to 30 days pregnancy will commence."
According to experts, many significant developments will still take place. They merely estimate the timings but the secondary progesterone rise was seen in July. So, if everything continues to be on track, pregnancy will start between 20 and 30 days. Tian Tian is reportedly in good health and very relaxed. She has a good weight and been eating well. Scientists and zoo keepers are monitoring her progress.
Tian Tian and Yang Guan (Sunshine) are the first two giant pandas in the UK since 17 years ago. Both of them are now 10 years old. They arrived from China in December of 2011 and will live at the Edinburgh Zoo for 10 years. Pandas' natural habitat is in the mountains of southwestern China. They are under pressure to breed and have a low reproductive rate. To date, there are 1,600 pandas in China.
