UK's only male giant panda Yang Guang has testicles removed after tumours found
The tumours were not a factor in Yang Guang and female Tian Tian not producing a cub at Edinburgh Zoo.
Tuesday 27 November 2018 16:00, UK
The UK's only male giant panda is "recovering well" from surgery to remove both testicles after tumours were found.
Yang Guang, also known as Sunshine, who has been at Edinburgh Zoo since 2011, had the operation on 17 November after British and Chinese panda specialists discussed his diagnosis.
The zoo said the tumours developed only recently and had not been a factor in Yang Guang and female panda Tian Tian (Sweetie) not producing a cub.
Such tumours in giant pandas are not unusual, the zoo said.
The black and white bears, which are on loan from China, are due to spend a decade in Edinburgh.
Natural breeding was attempted in 2012 and artificial insemination has been tried every year since 2013.
Tian Tian has had cubs in China, but not since arriving in the UK.
The zoo said it would be discussing "future breeding possibilities" with its Chinese counterparts.
"We are pleased Yang Guang is recovering well," said the zoo's head of living collections, Darren McGarry.
"Testicular tumours have previously been reported in giant pandas.
"The tumours we removed developed recently so they have not been a factor in Yang Guang and Tian Tian not having had a cub.
"We will discuss next steps, including future breeding possibilities, with our partners in China over coming weeks."