14 DAY TRIAL // Some time ago, veterinarians at Edinburgh zoo artificially inseminated a female panda named Tian Tian.
The panda bear is now showing signs of pregnancy, and its caretakers suspect it might not be long before a baby giant panda is born in Britain for the first time ever.
Sources say that, according to preliminary tests, Tian Tian's blood proteins and blood hormones levels have changed. Besides, the panda bear has altered its nesting behavior.
Although these changes might have been brought about by a so-called phantom pregnancy, zoo staff and veterinarians are hopeful this is not the case.
Still, Ian Valentine, the current director of the zoo's panda project, wished to stress the fact that, “Confirming a female panda’s pregnancy is never straightforward and we would encourage people to try not to get too excited just yet.”
The giant panda will be closely monitored in the days to come. Provided that it is indeed pregnant, it could give birth in about two weeks' time.