Tian Tian update and giant panda FAQ

After we shared news about Tian Tian’s annual health check and artificial insemination in April, our female giant panda showed really positive behaviour right through the breeding season.

While we now know the insemination was not successful, it has been fantastic to see how wonderful and relaxed Tian Tian has been this year which shows an incredible level of care from our charity’s expert teams. Giving Tian Tian the chance to experience pregnancy and parenthood is important for her wellbeing and provides a vital opportunity to express natural behaviours

Giant panda breeding is an amazingly complex, unpredictable process and every cycle has made it possible to carry out scientific research which has benefitted both Tian Tian and international efforts to protect the species over the past decade.

We remain in discussions with our colleagues in China about Yang Guang and Tian Tian’s future at Edinburgh Zoo as our original ten year agreement ends in December – we still hope to extend their stay and I will keep you all updated.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tian Tian okay and can visitors see her?

Tian Tian is doing really well and showing lots of very positive behaviour. Giving her the chance to experience pregnancy and parenthood is important for her wellbeing and provides a vital opportunity to express natural behaviours

As her cycle comes to an end, she’ll start to spend more time outdoors and in her visitor-facing indoor area towards the end of September. Like most of the animals in our care, Tian Tian has access to areas away from public view so she can enjoy some peace and quiet if she chooses to.

Why did you artificially inseminate Tian Tian? 

As well as being important for the international giant panda breeding programme, giving Tian Tian the opportunity to go through pregnancy and parenthood provides her with a vital opportunity to express natural behaviours and is fantastic for her overall welfare.

Yang Guang, our male giant panda, had both testicles removed in November 2018 due to the presence of tumours.

The artificial insemination (AI) procedure is very similar to what humans go through during IVF treatment and is carried out under expert veterinary care during Tian Tian’s annual health check.  

Is there a chance she could have been pregnant this year?

There is no definitive pregnancy test for pandas and they can have pseudopregnancies, which mimic real pregnancies, so we can only be sure she has been pregnant if she gives birth.

Giant panda breeding is an amazingly complex, unpredictable process and every cycle has made it possible to carry out scientific research which has benefitted both Tian Tian and international efforts to protect the species over the past decade.

Does this mean the giant panda agreement will be extended or will Tian Tian and Yang Guang be going back to China in December when the contract ends?

We remain in discussions with our colleagues in China about Yang Guang and Tian Tian’s future at Edinburgh Zoo as our original ten year agreement ends in December – we still hope to extend their stay and will keep everyone updated.

Would the agreement have been extended if Tian Tian had a cub? 

Yes – though we would have needed to discuss details with our colleagues in China, Tian Tian at the very least would have needed to stay to raise any cubs until they were old enough to travel.

Why do you pay to have the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo and how much does it cost to take care of them?

Caring for Tian Tian and Yang Guang, including their food and overall healthcare, costs our charity £35,000 each month. In addition, the agreement includes an annual payment of $1 million. This is often referred to as a loan payment when in fact this donation supports giant panda conservation, welfare and research in China.

Like all the animals in our care, our pandas play a critically important role in attracting and engaging hundreds of thousands of visitors each year so they can learn about the threats animals face in the wild and the action they can take to help. Their power to connect with people with nature and encourage behaviour change is invaluable.

Each visit to Edinburgh Zoo also supports conservation, research and education here in Scotland and around the world. You can help care for our animals and protect wildlife around the world by visiting our parks, joining RZSS as a member, adopting your favourite species and much more.