Keepers are hoping the notoriously infertile bears can produce a cub at the third attempt after Tian Tian was artificially inseminated in March

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The panda enclosure at Edinburgh zoo has been closed to the public as keepers hope for the arrival of a rare cub.

Britain’s only female giant panda, Tian Tian, was artificially inseminated for the third time earlier this year. Experts said she had conceived, but they still do not know for sure if she is pregnant.

Keepers in Edinburgh have closed off her enclosure and that of the male panda, Yang Guang, to prepare for a potential birth.

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“Please be aware that due to our giant panda Tian Tian’s potential pregnancy, the panda enclosure is now closed until further notice and both her and Yang Guang’s panda cams have also now been turned off,” a statement said.

“Many thanks to our visitors and members for their understanding during this exciting, but delicate period.”

A team of three vets at Edinburgh zoo and a panda expert from China carried out the insemination in March.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Giant panda Tian Tian captured on camera earlier this year

There were hopes that a cub would be born last year when Tian Tian became pregnant following insemination, but vets who monitored her believe she may have reabsorbed the foetus.

Panda reproduction is a notoriously tricky process, with females only ovulating once a year. The gestation period is typically five months and one or two cubs are usually born.

Tian Tian (Sweetie) and Yang Guang (Sunshine) were the first giant pandas to live in the UK for 17 years when they arrived on loan from China in December 2011.