Why pandas are doing the bear minimum when it comes to reproducing

Why do pandas struggle to breed in captivity?

Edinburgh Zoo recently said goodbye to the UK's only giant pandas after a 12-year stay which did not produce any offspring. Despite eight attempts at artificial insemination, Tian Tian did not become pregnant by her companion Yang Guang during her stay. 

This is not unusual and there are a number of factors in play. While reproduction rates are better in the wild, breeding in captivity is less successful. Conservationists face a number of challenges, which include:

Opportunity: Female pandas only ovulate once a year in the spring, with their fertile period lasting only between 36 to 40 hours. That's a very small window of opportunity. 

Attraction: In the wild, pandas would choose their own mates. It's not known if this may explain why captive breeding pairs, particularly males, often don't seem in the mood (hence the use of artificial insemination).

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Bearing the burden: The length of a panda's pregnancy can also vary, as the bear wants to give birth when conditions are environmentally optimal. This, along with the difficulty of detecting a panda pregnancy, can keep handlers guessing. 

Intense care: When breeding is successful panda cubs are completely helpless, needing intense care from the mother. Half of all panda births result in twins but the mother will usually abandon one as she will not have sufficient milk or energy to care for both. 

Swaparoo: In captivity, keepers will care for one and then face the tricky task of swapping the cubs over so they both receive some maternal care. 

Despite the challenges, the panda population both in the wild and in captivity is growing. The past decade has seen the birth of between 20 to 49 cubs each year.  In 2022, China downgraded the status of giant pandas from endangered to vulnerable. 

While Edinburgh Zoo failed to produce any cubs, it says the complex and unpredictable breeding process has given it a chance for scientific research which has benefited both Tian Tian and international efforts to protect the species.

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