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Giant pandas Wang Wang and Funi fail to mate; Adelaide zookeepers cite inexperience

Adelaide Zoo's giant pandas have failed to mate, but their keepers say it is by no means the end of the affair.

Since Tuesday, Wang Wang and Funi were repeatedly introduced to one another in special breeding quarters.

Acting senior panda keeper Lucy Catt said it was not unexpected the two failed to mate this year, given their age and inexperience.

"It's not disappointing at all; we are actually quite excited by what we have seen by both pandas this breeding season," Ms Catt said.

"We went into this with excitement and optimism, but we remained realistic throughout the whole season.

"We're the first institution to have two inexperienced pandas, where as everywhere else always has an experienced breeder with an inexperienced breeder, and that is certainly what we see in the wild as well.

"Even when a female comes into season for the first time, it's going to be the more dominant experienced males who get access to her."

Dominant displays by Wang Wang a positive sign

Ms Catt said the dominant male behaviours displayed by Wang Wang were a positive sign and the zoo was already looking forward to next year's breeding season.

She said there would now be a lot of discussion as to which direction the zoo takes for next year's season.

"But certainly from what we have seen this year, it certainly gives us a lot of hope for next year," she said.

She said a mixture of both natural mating and artificial insemination (AI) within the 36-hour mating period could be an option.

"At the start of her ovulation we [could] try for natural mating, and then you follow that on with AI, and then you don't do any more natural mating attempts, but you can follow up with an additional artificial insemination procedure," she said.

"We're very excited and confident in how we went and the road we took this year.

"Certainly, very optimistic for next year, but again there are some institutions that have had pandas for 10 years and who haven't bred.

"It is a very difficult thing to do, but these guys have been absolutely incredible."

The pandas have been at the Adelaide Zoo for about five years and are currently on a 10-year loan from China.

However Ms Catt said there was potential for the loan to be extended.

Should the pandas produce any cubs, they would be sent back to China when they were about 18 months old.