No cub this year for Edinburgh Zoo's female giant panda
Tian Tian was artificially inseminated in May.
The UK's only female giant panda will not give birth to cubs this year, keepers at Edinburgh Zoo believe.
A bid to see if Tian Tian could give birth was launched in May when she was artificially inseminated during her short breeding window.
It followed previous failed attempts to get Tian Tian to produce a cub since she and male Yang Guang arrived in Scotland from China in 2011.
But, in a statement released on Wednesday, the zoo said the female bear's hormone levels are returning to normal and her behaviours signal the end of her breeding cycle for this year''.
Iain Valentine, Director of Giant Pandas at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), said: “2016 has been an extremely positive year for the giant panda and we at RZSS are proud of our ground-breaking research and husbandry expertise which have helped the species recover from Endangered to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
"Our excitement is tinged with sadness, however, as it now appears clear that Tian Tian, our resident female giant panda, will not give birth to cubs this year.
"Tian Tian’s hormone levels are returning to normal and her behaviours signal the end of her breeding cycle for this year.
“Over the next few weeks we will conduct a thorough review of the scientific data and our processes to ensure we learn from this year’s breeding season.
"I would, however, like to praise the sheer professionalism and dedication of our expert team of keepers, veterinary staff and many others who have worked tirelessly to ensure Tian Tian receives the very best care possible twenty four hours a day, seven days a week."