Why is it so difficult to breed pandas? 0 9

In December 2011, a female named Tian Tian and a male named Yang Guang were transferred to Edinburgh Zoo. Since then, zoologists have repeatedly attempted to help the pandas reproduce, especially considering that Tian Tian had already become a mother in China. However, at the zoo, this has not been achieved either naturally or through artificial insemination.

“Breeding giant pandas is extremely difficult,” notes Professor Simon Girling, head of the veterinary service at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. “Because of this, they are at risk of extinction. It is sad that we have not been successful.”

Dr. Kirsten Wilson, a biologist at the University of Edinburgh, explains that pandas have many complex reproductive characteristics. Females are only ready to conceive for one to two days a year during a single spring estrus cycle. Meanwhile, males do not always understand when their partners are in the mood and may, for example, calmly eat bamboo while the female is clearly demonstrating readiness to mate.

“Reproduction is a very energy-intensive process,” explains Dr. Wilson. “At the same time, pandas do not get enough energy from bamboo (which makes up 99% of their diet). Features that contribute to energy conservation include reduced thyroid activity. When moving, a giant panda uses only half the energy of a stationary person. In other words, they lack the motivation to move, let alone to mate.”

In zoos, pandas become even lazier than in the wild. They do not need to hunt for food; bamboo is always at hand, or rather, at paw. The absence of potential threats and other stress factors leads to a loss of interest in natural mating, especially since outside of China, pandas are kept only in pairs. Females do not have the opportunity, as nature intended, to choose the best male.

As a result, keepers have tried numerous methods to help the pair of pandas in Scotland produce offspring. They played romantic music for them and sent them to a “love tunnel.” After 2018, attempts at artificial insemination began. But all to no avail. According to preliminary estimates, Edinburgh Zoo has spent £13.7 million on the pandas and attempts to get them to have a cub. Now the bears are returning home...