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Panda enclosure closed amid pregnancy hopes
Tian Tian
Tian Tian's enclosure is now closed until further notice.

Keepers believe Tian Tian may be expecting a cub

The panda enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo is closed until further notice due to the possible pregnancy of giant panda Tian Tian.

Britain's only female panda was artificially inseminated for the third time earlier this year. Experts say that she did conceive, but they did not know for sure if she was pregnant.

Now keepers at the Zoo have closed off Tian Tian's enclosure in the hope of the arrival of a rare cub.

A statement on the Edinburgh Zoo website says:  "Please be aware that due to our giant panda Tian Tian's potential pregnancy, the panda enclosure is now closed until further notice and both her and Yang Guang's panda cams have also now been turned off. There is no further news at this stage.

"Many thanks to our visitors and members for their understanding during this exciting, but delicate period."

Tian Tian was artificially inseminated in March after two previous attempts failed to produce a panda cub.

The procedure was carried out by an expert team of three veterinary surgeons, together with Doctor Wang Chengdong from the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas. Only semen from the zoo's male giant panda Yang Guang was used during the procedure.

Tian Tian and Yang Guang arrived at Edinburgh Zoo in December 2011 and they are the first adult giant pandas to have ever come out of China.

Image (C) RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.