Edinburgh Zoo staff say Britain's only female panda continues to show positive signs that she is pregnant.

If Tian Tian is carrying a baby, the birth is expected to be in the next two weeks.

A team of keepers at the zoo have been given access to CCTV footage in their homes and the panda is being monitored around the clock for signs of labour.

Tian Tian and the zoo's male mate, Yang Guang, are the UK's only pair of giant pandas.

Results from the panda's urine samples are being analysed by Memphis Zoo and the China Conservation and Research Centre (CCRCGP) with both parties remaining "encouraged".

Tian Tian's progesterone levels continue to stay high and she is currently very sleepy, which are both positive pregnancy signs.

If the panda goes into labour, she will appear restless, start to bleat and her waters will break.

A zoo spokeswoman said it remained a "very sensitive period" for the panda if she were to be pregnant.

Tian Tian's body could yet reabsorb any foetuses.

Despite a lack of certainty, staff are planning for a birth to happen.

Chinese panda keeper Haiping Hu, from CCRCGP, arrived in Edinburgh on Saturday to be on hand if a cub or cubs are born.

Miss Hu has experience in assisting with panda births, especially if twins are born and one cub needs to be removed.

New incubators have also arrived and keepers are preparing a 24-hour rota to care for any newborns.

Iain Valentine, director of giant pandas for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: "What we are seeing in Tian Tian's hormones is encouraging, but we still cannot guarantee a pregnancy or successful birth.

"If indeed she is pregnant, this is an extremely risky time for panda pregnancies.

"Female giant pandas can actually reabsorb any foetuses or reject them if pregnant.

"If she is pregnant and carries to full term, we believe a cub or cubs could be born anytime over the next two weeks - although there are no certainties we must err on the side of caution and be on red alert from today."

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/69485000/jpg/_69485233_000733610-1.jpg

Panda cub facts


Giant panda foetuses do not start to develop until the final weeks of gestation
At birth they weight about 150g (0.33 pounds)
Panda cubs are born pink and covered in short, sparse white hair; their eyes are tightly shut and they cry loudly and often
Their black patches start to appear at about one week old, followed by black hair on the patches a few weeks later
They spend the first few weeks sleeping and suckling
At about three to four weeks old, the cubs can regulate their body temperatures and do not need constant body contact from the mother to keep warm
By 75 to 80 days panda cubs can stand and walk a few steps; they also begin to teethe at this point and eyesight and hearing improve
At four months old panda cubs are active, run about and climb on their mother's back to play

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/69485000/jpg/_69485233_000733610-1.jpg

Panda cub facts


Giant panda foetuses do not start to develop until the final weeks of gestation
At birth they weight about 150g (0.33 pounds)
Panda cubs are born pink and covered in short, sparse white hair; their eyes are tightly shut and they cry loudly and often
Their black patches start to appear at about one week old, followed by black hair on the patches a few weeks later
They spend the first few weeks sleeping and suckling
At about three to four weeks old, the cubs can regulate their body temperatures and do not need constant body contact from the mother to keep warm
By 75 to 80 days panda cubs can stand and walk a few steps; they also begin to teethe at this point and eyesight and hearing improve
At four months old panda cubs are active, run about and climb on their mother's back to play



it's so cute.  :)