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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 27th March 2015
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Giant panda Tian Tian artificially inseminated again
Tian Tian
Tian Tian has been artificially inseminated on two occasions but has failed to produce a cub.
Experts hope it will be third time lucky

The female giant Panda Tian Tian at Edinburgh Zoo has been artificially inseminated again, the Royal Zoological Society (RZSS) have confirmed.

It is the third attempt for Tian Tian, who has been inseminated on two previous occasions but has failed to produce a panda cub.

The procedure was carried out by an expert team of three veterinarians at RZSS yesterday, alongside Doctor Wang Chengdong from the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas.  Only semen from male panda Yang Guang was used during the procedure.

Iain Valentine, director of giant pandas for the RZSS, said: “Natural mating will also be attempted before the short breeding window comes to a close this afternoon (Thursday) as both pandas remain extremely interested in one another, but as Tian Tian’s transition to peak was so rapid it was a priority to move straight to AI first.
 
“Throughout yesterday (Wednesday) Tian Tian remained very quiet and sleepy, but by 5pm there was a behavioural shift and the results of hormone tests that came back at 7pm, carried out by the University of Edinburgh, confirmed ovulation had occurred. As each individual panda is different and their pattern can vary from year to year, this is why we start hormone monitoring via urine samples so early and continually observe our female via CCTV as the window approaches.
 
“Tian Tian is doing very well and everything went according to plan.”

The panda enclosure is likely to remain closed until Sunday, 29 March. 

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."