Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 25th August 2015
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Tian Tian no longer pregnant, experts say
Tian Tian
The female panda was artificially inseminated for the third time in March this year.

Foetus thought to have been reabsorbed

The UK's only female giant panda, Tian Tian, will not give birth to a cub this year, Edinburgh Zoo experts believe.

Hopes were raised early last week when the pandas' outdoor viewing area was closed due to the possible arrival of a cub.

However, experts now say the foetus may have been reabsorbed into the womb in the late stages of pregnancy. Resorption is thought to be a common occurrence in giant pandas.

“Based upon our scientific data, the window has now passed during which Tian Tian would have given birth," said Chris West, CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).

"Therefore RZSS has to advise that we now do not believe that our female giant panda will have a cub.
 
“Tian Tian is still showing behaviour of a pregnant panda, being sleepy and off her food, but we now must assume she has resorbed her pregnancy in late term."

The female panda was artificially inseminated for the third time in March this year. In 2013, she is thought to have lost her cub late term, while last year keepers reported late reabsorption of the foetus could have occurred.

The news comes after the surprise birth of twin panda cubs at Washington National Zoo last weekend, followed by the birth of a female cub in Malaysia, which was announced on Monday.

Nonetheless, Edinburgh Zoo says it has carried out the world's most comprehensive hormone analysis of a female giant panda, making key discoveries about giant panda pregnancy which it hopes will add to the global understanding of the species.

The pandas' outdoor viewing area reopened to the public today (25 August).

Image courtesy of RZSS

 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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."