Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo News 2014

Does anyone know what it was about 'the female's behaviour' that prevented them being put together last April so that they progressed straight to AI?

 

When i was at the Members talk part 1 they stated that she either completely ignored him or was quite agressive towards him through the bars. They felt that he wasnt ready.. so she wouldnt accept him. Fingers crossed they get it right this year

Ive not been to the zoo for a while but was browsing the new website and there are no Zebras listed in it? have they gone or is it an oversight?

 

Thanks. I know its quite hard to synchronise their cycles- the males apparently have one of sorts too and they both need to be in the same peak of condition.

 

They are under Grevy's Zebra - but a SQL error occurs when you try to look at the second page of the 'G's

Edinburgh Zoo - Grevy's Zebra

 

Don't think this has been posted yet: the zoo's official statement on their own website confirming Tian Tian should be ready to breed this fortnight

Edinburgh Zoo - Panda Experts Confirm Crucial Hormone Crossover

Panda Experts Confirm Crucial Hormone Crossover

04 April 2014

Edinburgh Zoo’s giant pandas are one step closer to the anticipated 36 hour annual breeding window, with experts confirming a crucial hormone crossover in female panda Tian Tian has now taken place and that she should come into oestrus within the next seven to 14 days.

Working with endocrinologists from the Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI) at the University of Edinburgh, who analyse daily urine samples taken from Tian Tian, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) panda experts have been able to confirm the all-important crossover of hormones took place on Tuesday 1 April. The crossover occurs when oestrogen levels rise higher than progesterone levels.

The team will continue to closely watch Tian Tian’s behaviour over the coming days to gauge when her 36 hour breeding window begins, and this behavioural monitoring will be backed up by further hormone analysis which will show a sharp rise then sudden drop in oestrogen levels when Tian Tian comes into oestrus. In her first year at Edinburgh Zoo, this occurred on day eight after the hormone crossover, while in 2013 it occurred much later on day 14.

Much like last year, RZSS is working with a large team of international experts on the science behind giant panda breeding. Panda behaviour expert Professor Wang Chengdong, from the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP), flies into Edinburgh on Friday 4 April to assist in decoding Tian Tian and Yang Guang’s behaviour in the run up to the breeding window.

In 2013 Tian Tian fell pregnant after artificial insemination, carrying almost to full term. This was ground-breaking science and the first time such a procedure was performed on a giant panda in the UK. Her 36 hour breeding window showed she wanted to mate, but her behaviour suggested she would not be responsive to our male panda, Yang Guang; putting them together potentially posed risk of injury. In the wild this would not be a problem as she would find and mate with multiple partners during this short time. In the Zoo however, this means we used artificial insemination, the recommended method by the Chinese.

Iain Valentine, Director of Giant Pandas for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said:

“Panda breeding season is progressing nicely and over the coming days, both Tian Tian and Yang Guang’s behaviour will become much more pronounced as we get closer to the breeding window. They will become more restless, scent-marking will increase and they will call to each other. Now that we have seen the hormone crossover we will begin enclosure swapping more regularly, which encourages breeding behaviours. Panda breeding season remains a delicate and complex affair, which takes in cutting-edge science from not only within Scotland but also abroad.”

When Tian Tian is in oestrus, keepers will attempt natural mating as well as artificial insemination. Artificial insemination and reproduction specialists Professor Dr Thomas Hildebrandt, Dr Frank Göritz and Dr Joseph Saragusty, from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin, will once again oversee the procedure. Finally, Dr Forbes Howie at QMRI who has been leading on the hormone analysis of Tian Tian’s urine, will continue to play an important role post-breeding season in looking for signs of pregnancy.

The science behind panda breeding season forms just one of many aspects of RZSS’s giant panda conservation and research project. As well as assisting with genetic and ecological research, RZSS also provides funds for work in the wild, such as the construction of bamboo corridors which allow many species, including pandas, to cross into previously isolated reserves.

Iain Valentine continued:

“The survival of the giant panda is crucial. Firstly, the species does not live in a vacuum and a lot of panda conservation resources go towards managing and protecting a large amount of reserves in China, which also directly benefits other species living within these areas. Secondly, giant pandas act as ambassadors, raising awareness about conservation in general; when visitors come to see Tian Tian and Yang Guang they also learn about the plight of many other animals, the importance of preserving ecological diversity and how they can help.”

Interestingly they haven't posted it on their facebook, perhaps they are keeping the breeding more low key in the media this year?

 

A little more from the Beeb
BBC News - Panda is artificially inseminated at Edinburgh Zoo

Alan

 

And so Panda Babywatch2014 begins......

 

The zoos website has now been updated to reflect the fact that Golden Cats, Swa-Fei and Khan have now "left for another collection" and they just have male, Ipoh currently
Edinburgh Zoo - Asiatic Golden Cat

 

At this rate 'Big Cat Row' is going to become 'empty row'

 

They've gone to Exmoor I believe. Which tallies with the latest post in that thread.

 

I note the heroic self-restraint of a medieval historian from Northumberland with admiration....

 

He's busy doing his overdue homework (writing up his German essay).

 

And a good job too, those enclosures are not fit for purpose.

 

Really? They have height and elevation, two things that arboreal carnivores should always have. Give any cat a view (and some privacy) and it will appreciate it. There's plenty worse small to medium sized carnivore enclosures in the UK IMHO...

 

That depends on the new purpose(s) proposed for them.
I agree with IRR, they don't have to be used for big cats. Smaller cats would be fine and other arboreal carnivores, such as martens and even grey foxes (yes, they are ) would find them very suitable IMHO.

Alan

 

I agree for small carnivores, refurbished these enclosures would still be OK, but no longer suitable for an animal the size of a leopard. One disadvantage these enclosures have is that they are situated on a very hilly part of the zoo,it is about at this point that visitors appreciate how hilly this zoo is on their way to the top, especialy those pushing wheel chairs and pushchairs, can't do anything to improve that situation unfortunately.

 

Well, unless Edinburgh (a pretty hilly city!) is kind enough to help RZSS to relocate, the zoo is stuck with that. And frankly, a hilly site gives all sorts of advantages, unless big buildings (elephant house, aquarium) are contemplated.

 

First gentoo chick has hatched and is often visible on the penguin cam-its the nest at front right (E2 on the diagram). Also pics of 2 tiny red river hogs posted by visitors on facebook.

 

Edinburgh seem to have done a complete U turn with their policy on Red River Hog;

a. keeping them again.
b. letting them breed.