Yun Zi is growing and growing! The first time I held him, he was 7 pounds (3 kilograms); now, he is well over 20 pounds (9 kilograms) and very strong. In the afternoons, the keepers bring Yun Zi off exhibit with Bai Yun so we can clean it for the next day’s adventures. Ideally he would be wide awake, run after Momma and go out the door, into the tunnel, and bound into the bedrooms for the evening. But little Yun Zi is an independent boy. Most afternoons, he is sound asleep under the honeysuckle bushes. As a keeper, it is my job to wake him up and get him inside with Bai Yun. It’s a tough job cuddling a baby panda!
Once Bai is safely inside eating, I enter the exhibit and start to wake up Yun Zi. I begin by calling his name and gently petting him. Typically, he barely opens his eyes, yawns, and rolls back over to sleep. So I scoop him up and put the sleepy boy in the tunnel. After all the doors are secure, I open up Bai’s bedroom door, and Yun Zi scrambles inside for the night.
In the afternoons, check out Panda Cam to see Yun Zi. Look for him on the shelf in the garden room enjoying some time with Mom.
Holly Border is a keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
right now see them inside a big box for shade maybe outside?? too funny!!
Holly, It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it.
You are one lucky girl.
I’ve noticed that Yun Zi seems to like to curl up in the corner of the platform and that many times Momma will sleep on the outside as if to protect him – it’s a very sweet scene to witness.
Thank you for information Holly. I have watched Yun Zi asleep on the shelf. Does this mean that they no longer require using the den? Will the den be taken away or will it be kept there in case Yun Zi decides to go in. I have not seen him use the den lately. It is nice to see Yun Zi out in the exhibit for all to see. He has so much fun playing with his mom Bai Yun.
i’d like to volunteer to read YUN ZI a ‘NAPPY TIME’ story. how about the 3 LITTLE BEARS or THE ADVENTURES OF POOH? i’ll just gently pet him and read to him until he goes off to sleep. no really. it would be no trouble at all.
Holly, if you ever need to take a holiday, please let me know. I will fly in from Maine (not just because it’s warmer there in San Diego) and take care of Yun Zi for you. It will be hard to convince my husband that I am the only other person qualified to do this, but I will figure something out to tell him.
What a lucky person you are!!! Where was this job description when I was in Junior High looking at what I wanted to do with my life?
Thanks for the beautiful descriptive story of Yun Zi’s bedtime. We appreciate all your hard work.
I really enjoyed watching Yun Zi last Friday (while we had an ice storm … I could do it). He was in the climbing structure, sitting on the cross-limb and reaching for one of the orange blossoms. Then he tried to get both paws around it … yup, he did a front flip boink. But he climbed back up and tried the same thing AGAIN … up, again, front flip boink. It was almost as much fun as watching the video of his first public day! Thanks. I’ll hope to be back on the left coast in April … (alas, because the bus route to Zoo Atlanta was TOO TOO ICY … could not get there to see our local, Xi Lan!) Hi Kay …
I hope that this is a regular schedule for Yun Zi to be out in the viewing area in the a.m. Reading your description of him makes me soooooo excited. We will be down there next Monday to Thursday and hope to get to see him several times. Only wish that I could cuddle him as you did, Holly. Please take good care of him for all of us PANDAHOLICS.
Does he just get cuter and cuter or is it just me? :~)
Yun Zi really loves the honeysuckle. Is it a particularly highly perfumed honeysuckle for the Pandas’ enjoyment? Do they have a good sense of smell when it comes to plants? He’s obviously very
tired after his busy morning showing off to his fans.
You enjoyed telling us that you HAVE to pick up Yun Zi, didn’t you?
Wow, Holly! I hope you are prepared for the avalanche of offers to help with this “tough job”
Holly…..I bet the SDZ could raffle off tickets to assist you in picking up Yunior,as the list of people willing to carry him to the tunnel is endless…LOL…..From yesterdays blog and this mornings post I too have noticed that the web-site has been having some issues as now I can’t get the web-cam to load and have had Mocrosoft IE8 tell me that there is a problem with web-site and we had to cancel the site and reload….I hope that Yunior Fever hasn’t overpowered the server or that it didn’t pick up a virus….. For everybody that wants to know about NZ and Mei’s AI Procedure I have been e-mailing them for 2 weeks since I noticed her near estrus behaviour and got an e-mail back stating that she in fact had 2 AI Procedures done when she and Tian Tian could not get the act done again naturally…..I posted a copy of that e-mail on the SDZ Facebook page as we all hope for success at both the NZ and Memphis as 2 more cubbies would ease the pain of losing 3 of our youngsters to the China Breeding Facilities…..I wonder if the fact that our babies spend 18 months with their Mothers instead of 6 months like they do in China has any contribution to what a great Mom Hua Mei has become and hopefully Su Lin as well…….Makes you wonder as I can understand the plight of saving a species but wonder if Panda Mills Mentality like puppy mills are really helping in the long run…..
I can remember Lin Lin also as a Panda Princess that did not want to leave the exhibit for afternoon cleaning and resupply of bamboo and we were fortunate enough to to view her nonchalance by staying in the trees while the keepers cleaned the exhibit area only to come down for some carrots or apple slices and a scratch on her back as she knew when Bai Yun came back the snacks would be gone as we knicknamed her Bulldozer Bai Yun how she came in and pushed Lin Lin away to get all the snacks…LOL…
I guess he’ll join Lin Lin and ZZ when moved to the front exhibit area to come down from the trees if he like his sisters decided to meet and greet his keepers and get a back scratch before he too becomes a little ankle biter such as the video of ZZ and her keeper…LOL….
“Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things……”
Holly! Great article! You will now have EVERY Pandafan sighing with vicarious pleasure and, really, a bit of Jealousy
“It’s a tough job cuddling a baby panda.” Sigh!!!! 
Sigh…..!
Too cute! I thought the shelf was in the bedroom – what does the bedroom look like? It’s not the same as the den is it?
Moderator’s note: The den leads out to the bedroom, where there is a platform that doubles as a scale for getting the panda’s weight. The bedroom leads out to the sunroom, and the sunroom leads to the garden room where the corner platform is located. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the update Holly. This just made me laugh! He’s certainly his own independent little man!
Hee hee…sounds like a tough job….lucky is you who gets to do it. : )
He is so adorable. Watching him grow and play….so confident in his walk. Momma is doing such a good job with him. Hmm…if only some humans could take that kind of interest in teaching their young. Hmm…
Oh….. Bonnie Hunt showed the debut video today. Well…the last part where he entertained, posed and PLOPPED…..
You poor thing…….Fancy having to cuddle my bubby panda!!!!!!!!! My Heart feels for you!!!!!.
Have Booked flights to check on my boy in march…incoming Braunston Pandarazzi UK …Muh Muh xxxxxx
Holly I know it’s a hard thing to do – waking up that sleeping baby, then watching him roll and stretch, and picking him up bringing him to the tunnel – BUT – like someone said earlier, someone has to do it!! I envy you and the time you have with these pandas. I love watching Bai and Yunior playing together. She’s such a great mom!! Thanks for the writeup and take care!
Love this little guy, I saw him playing with mom and the feeding. She is so good with her babies.
He seems to have a mind of his own. Mom has to keep him in check. Love to watch the little boy.
Thanks for all of your review.
lu
I love him so much!!! Its just so nice to read about him!!!
Oh jealousy rears it’s ugly head!!!! How I would love to be the one having to wake up the little chubbers to head him back with mommy, to gently pet him, to cuddle him. Oh I hate you!!!! (says the petulant child inside). The adult, on the other hand, LOVES your description and finds it all so charming.
I’m with Liz #5- just holler when you need some sweet stories read to the little guy.
What a great story about Yunior’s animality! (an animal’s personality)
I was at the National Zoo on Saturday, celebrating Tai Shan’s 4-1/2 Birthday and was able to witness the mating attempts of Tian Tian and Mei Xiang. Now, we have 2 early estruses and I am praying for healthy cubs in Memphis and DC. I’m eagerly awaiting the pitter-patter of little paws for next year so we don’t miss the kind of excitement that Yun Zi is bringing us through San Diego right now.
Today, I saw a friend that I haven’t seen in over a year and she asked me about the news in the panda world. There was lots to report and it caused me to reflect on how wonderfully we are blessed with our various Giant Panda Centers here in the US.
My thanks to the SDZ team for all you do to bring giant pandas into our daily lives. I truly appreciate all you do, and like many others I am envious of you getting to carry Yunior inside. But since I can’t do that myself, I feel like I am part of it through the blogs and updates.
Love, Joy
Question for Holly and the other Keepers: Yun Zi seems to have no fear of humans. Does he mind being picked up at all? Does he squirm to get away? Is it because he’s used to your smell?
I had the pleasure of visiting Yun Zi and mama yesterday! He was asleep, but it was soooo exciting to see him up close.
Thanks for the update. Yunior is quite the little sleeper! Love the hammock that he sleeps in outside and it seems like Bai Yun is on a branch up top watching over him. You guys are all terrific!
Am wondering, does Yun Zi climb onto the platform in the garden room himself, or does Bai carry him up there?
I must say that watching him explore and try to climb now, he’s starting to remind me of Zhen Zhen. Both are fearless! Both won’t stop until they figure out how to do what they want to do. True, he took a lot longer to become really active than Zhennie did, but now that he’s revved up he’s making up for lost time!
In one sense it’s sad that the denning phase is over, but in my humble opinion, five months is the optimal cuteness time zone for baby pandas. I might, might get down there to see him sometime in the next two weeks!
Thanks for the info. I’m just wondering if the garden room is open air like the sunroom?
Moderator’s note: I believe so. I will attempt to clarify.
Thank you so much for the update on Yun Zi. I am sure you know we hang on every word about Yunior and we do appreciate any and ALL information you share with us. Needless to say, I am very jealous that you get to cuddle with him. He is just too cute for words.
Moderator:
Well, now I’m confused. Holly writes: “After all the doors are secure, I open up ***Bai’s bedroom door***, and Yun Zi scrambles inside for the night”. That seemed to confirm my assumption that the corner platform (where they do indeed spend most nights) was in Bai’s bedroom.
Maybe my confusion is in not understanding what the “garden room” is. I thought it was the exhibit area.
No? Is it another room between the sunroom and the exhibit? Do we ever see it, other than the corner platform shot?
Oh, wait. Is it that small room where we occasionally see Bai sitting on a concrete floor eating boo (Looking like she’s incarcerated!) ?
The exhibit area Yun Zi is in each morning, nicknamed the classroom, is different from the garden room.
Moderator’s note: You’re confusing me now
Its a tough job waking up a beautiful panda cub, but someone has to do it, right???
Luck you is all I can say!
It was said previously that Yun Zi nurses a few times a day. Is he eating bamboo now as well? Thanks.
#11: Ditto!!
Still think he should have been named Shui Xiong= napping bear!
He’s so sleepy! Is that normal for a cub his age?
Moderator’s note: He plays hard, he sleeps hard!
Sure wish I could win a BIG, BIG lottery!!! Believe me, I’m not above bribing someone to look the other way while I smooch this baby!!! Not afraid of going to jail for bribery either. In fact, I just have no morality problems at all when it comes to loving that baby boy. I’ve given up on sneaking in with my many “pandaholic gangstas” due to all the snow and ice. Chains on the wheelchair weren’t any help. BUT, I am sitting here scheming so will let the “gang” know when I come up with the perfect plot.
Just loved watching the play session today. I don’t know about Bai, but I was worn out. LOL
Holly….Another question on the sleeping platform….Was it always in this location with the previous cubs and didn’t it use to have a cave like appearance with a wall to the left of the climbing log? If it is the same location wall less is a lot better view…..Now if we only could get the den cam with night vision moved and swapped with camera 15 to give us night owls a view of Bai and Yunior on the platform we would have true Panda Heaven…..
The NZ finally posted the e-mail that they sent me over the weekend in regards to the early estrus of Mei…
Their website with the posting is : http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/
Again keep our fingers and toes crossed that she doesn’t have another false pregnancy again this year and maybe we will have 2 more cubbies to view in 2010 at the NZ and hopefully Memphis Zoo as well…..
I’m still waiting to hear from my job and have been to other interviews just in case….Also waiting to hear from Lynn as she is developing major cabin fever starting year 2 in the Hospital….Again I thank everybody involved at the SDZ and my Global Panda Fans , Family and Friends for your concern , prayers , and get well wishes as even her Doctors have noticed a great improvement in Lynn’s attitude and health since I’ve been reading her all of your wishes and describing the antics of Yunior and now the NZ AI….We are one large family of caring people shown by our common love of Pandas and all other animals as well as the support we give towards each other as needed….I hope Lynn is able to travel as a Panda Convention where we can meet many of our fellow Pandaholics as it would be a great way to hopefully celebrate a great year in 2010…..
” Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things……”
Gee it sounds like I missed a lot taking a morning nap when all of the action was going on. It was okay when they had the cam on in the den all night, I got to see lots of play in the early morning hours.
Golly it sounds like you had best get YZ awake on schedule soon or you will need “3 grown men and a small boy” to assist you in getting him to the tunnel. Like it has been said above we envy your job when you must tickle his belly, scratch his back, cuddle and talk to him-like all good pandaholics wish they could.
Take care of your back when lifting or think about the “3 grown men….” Love 3 m grammmie
Thankyou Moderator. You’re the best!
Happy New Year Moderator!
You work so hard educating us zoo guests.
Thank you
I would gladly do panda poop detail if I could but see him up close just once. To hold him, or cuddle him, well that is to die for. Lucky Lucky You!!! I usually do not covet anything, but I covet you today!!!
Ok I have a stupid question but have to ask. I was watching the Cam and both Bai and YunZi were asleep. Then beautiful closeup if Yunior sleeping. on the plattform. I walked away from the comp. for a few minutes and when I came back Bai was sitting up with some red blob infront of her on the plattform. She kept sniffing it then ate it. I never saw any food on the plattform before. Did she vomit the eat it? I know many nurseing mothers will eat everything to keep the area clean for her baby. I also understand that regeratating is part of many animals digestion. Can anyone shed light on what I saw? Thanks
Love the blogs, thank you!
Yun Zi is really wiped out in the afternoon, so sweet to see him sleep and recover from the day.
How very lucky you are Holly!! Half the world, well maybe more, is sooo envious of you “having” to wake the baby and carry him inside. Oh, I can’t even imagine having to do that “chore”! LOL And I’m sure you never, ever think about sneaking in a kiss on that cute nose.
I was happy to see you post #37 Candy C. We haven’t heard from you for a while, (or I might have missed you in all the posts). Can’t wait to hear more of your adventures in getting to SDZ in your wheelchair. I have many relatives in Iowa who might be able to help—at least to the border!
I’ve been thinking about #13 (Dennis and Lynn) regarding China’s cubs being able to stay with their mothers for 18 mo rather than weaning at 6 mo and had similar thoughts. It only seems logical that if China wants to release pandas back into the wild, and recall reading that they were thinking it might work better with releasing a female instead of a male, that a female with complete mothering skills would be needed. Hopefully some sort of sustainable population in captivity with a diverse enough gene pool is being reached so that all females can completely rear their cubs if possible. And perhaps they already are allowing some females to stay with their cubs, though such information is not as accessible as we would like. At the damaged reserve weren’t there some enclosures for pandas possibly to be released? The Chinese keepers are so devoted to their charges and the love and selflessness they showed the world after the earthquake was incredible.
I have watched this “chubby cubby” since it was born and it is so cute. Cuddling a panda must be a very difficult job, one that I am sure many of us which we had. Watching it sleep or do anything is so cute it warms my heart and makes my day. I hope to come one day to San Diego to visit the little guy himself.
Thank you all for continuing to do such a great job.
Holly, you are so lucky to be able to hold little Yun Zi. I think all of us would do anything to be in your shoes!Love watching mom and baby playing. Thanks again to all of you at SDZ and as always, love, kisses and hugs to Bai Yun and precious Yun Zi.
Move over all of you homegrown pandaholics – I think it is time Yun Zi learnt some “Austalian slang”
I will be over on the next flight. Look out Holly – I am really good at cuddles!!! Seriously, thank you Holly for the Blog – I am really green with envy. Next time pleaseeeeee…. give Yun Zi a big cuddle from Australia
Hiya,
What is Yun Zi eating now? In the cam right now he looks like he’s eating bamboo…
Thank you so much for all the blogs. I have enjoyed watching the panda cam daily and wish I lived near beautiful SDZ instead of freezing Edmonton.
Aha! I got my answer! Yun Zi indeed is able to climb up to the platform in the garden room all by himself! I just watched him do it.
Clever boy.
OMG Holly………..what a tough job, but I guess someone has to do it, huh??? LOL………………
I would be in heaven if I could pick our little man up just once and carry him in for his nights sweet dreams………
I’m watching him now, and he’s so sleepy and trying to get comfortable………….what a cutie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aahhh, Holly, what a job – can’t imagine the fun of waking up a sleeping baby panda
Loved your blog 
Holly you are one lucky girl, would love to be in your shoes, I’m jealous. But still enjoy watching him on the panda cam. Thank-you SDZ for having the panda cam. We would all be so sad without it. Thank-you for all the cams you give to us from your zoo. Thanks again for the info. As always hugs and kisses to mama bear and baby.
Is there, on the SDZ website, a sketch of the lay out of panda territory? I’m having a hard time envisioning how the bedroom leads to the sunroom, etc. Thank you for all your work.
Moderator’s note: There is not a layout of our panda exhibit available.
Dennis, I think “Panda Mills” is a bit strong language. After all, the dogs in puppy mills are horribly abused, and the Chinese pandas are cared for with great love. Observing Bai Yun with her cubs, I, too, feel (in an unscientific way) that there is wisdom in following nature’s path and leaving the cubs with their mothers until the mothers feel they are ready to go. I am sure Bai Yun is teaching her babies important lessons up until the last day they are together. The drop in the number of cubs in China this year may be an indicator that Mother Nature has decided the breeding will go more slowly.
As I understand it, though, the Chinese are responding to a pressing need to increase the population and gene pool. I have read that their intensive breeding program is to try to bring the numbers up to a certain point. I haven’t read what is planned after that number is reached, but I just bought a book called Saving the Giant Panda by Terry Maple from Zoo Atlanta. I’m hoping to learn more from that. I’d appreciate any other recommendations for reading! I am sure that the Chinese scientists are considering many options and that none of them is anything less than passionately concerned with the life of every single panda on earth.
Meanwhile, I, too, am jealous of the people who actually get paid to cuddle pandas (and probably quite a few less glamorous tasks as well!). Thanks, Holly, for the vivid blog!
Is it just me, or does Yun Zi play before the zoo opens, and sleep when the zoo is open? It’s like he wants to fall asleep before everyone sees him! Just saw Bai flat on her back, eating some tasty bamboo. Bet she’s glad that Yunior doesn’t eat it…yet!
Hi, Panda lovers in San Diego!!! I need a huge favor from you… I’ll be finally coming to San Diego on Thursday to see YunZi in person!! However, I need to find a doggie day care in the area close to the zoo to leave my pooch there while I visit the zoo. I can’t leave him here at home (in Los Angeles) because they’ll be fumigating my building, and it would be nice for him to come along for the drive. Can somebody point me in the right direction?
And, moderator, thank you for all the great info! Hopefully I’ll get lucky and YunZi will be awake and playing when I come to see him.
Moderator’s note: If anyone has suggestions for Rebeca, I will send them to her personally, as this is not the forum for posting pet care options
Great description Holly of your “work”. I would fly out there in a heart beat from the snow and cold of Michigan to help wake up our little boy. He is off the cute scale.
What time to you “put the sweetie to bed”?
short post, but cute, yun zi is simply adorable. i love him so much, i love pandas so much. I LOVE YUN ZI
Oh. So. Jealous.
Brandy #43–I didn’t see what you are referring to today, but Bai often gets her carrot or yam treats up on the platform.
Oh, Holly, tough job you have!!! If you get tired, just let me know. I’ll be right there. (Lucky, lucky you!)
Yun Zi just so cute , but that white metal cage has been already placed inside Taishan’s yard, just one look breaking my heart , crushing my soul……
Boy what a stuff job cuddling a little black and white ball of fur everyday. LOL Holly you are so lucky to be able to handle that little boy I want that job.
Lucky you! I would love to have your job and wake up Yun Zi. To pick him up and carry him to a tunnel would be a dream come true.
Hello my fellow panda lovers. First of all, if you are interested in the panda fans’ convention, sign on to Facebook and join the Panda-fandom Worldwide group. We are up to 28 members.
Next, finally, my favorite photos that I took in October of the two sisters are now available on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandacrazy/sets/
I looovvee this blog!!!
Hey, #51 Karen in Edmonton – nice to see there’s another crazy canuck from Edmonton on these blogs!! Like you, I wish San Diego was just a mere few hours from home, although I’m not complaining about our weather right now.
Holly, girl, great blog, but I see you’re not getting much sympathy from the fans despite the tough job of “having to” wake up the panda prince cubby. No spite intended, I’m sure. We are all just wishing we could be in your shoes even for just a little bit. Add my name to your list of very willing volunteers in case you ever need a hand or two. Thank you for the TLC you give these precious bears.
We went by to see little Yun Zi at the zoo yesterday – he was asleep in his little hammock when we got there (Bai Yun was asleep in the tree above him, looking very funny with her big belly bulging down between two branches). One of the staff very nicely told us that he had been waking up by around 10:30 or 11, so we went back then and he was awake and playing. Thanks so much to the person who told us that! Yun Zi was so adorable – he was trotting after Bai Yun and then tried to climb up a little tree, but she grabbed him by the rump and pulled him back. It really takes all one’s self control not to try to climb into the exhibit and pick him up!
Sharon – Thanks for the good info about Yun Zi because we will be in San Diego next week and I just can’t wait to be able to see him….and Su Lin, ZZ and mama Bai Yun. Were you able to see all “5″ pandas or is Gao Gao not on viewing now? I sure hope it isn’t raining when we get down there! Glad you had such a good visit with our cuddly baby!!
Moderator’s note: Gao Gao is not on exhibit at present.
I was at the zoo today, in the morning. They were having a great time. Yunior wanted to walk to the edge of the dry pool, which apparently has quite a big drop, but mom grabbed him by the neck and pulled him back. They were rough housing and seemed to have a great time. Wish I could have stayed longer.
I also saw something unusual at the elephants, one elephant was lying down and another leaned heavily into her. Then she eventually got up. I got video of it.
I have pictures from my visit on photobucket, including a couple of short videos:
http://s869.photobucket.com/albums/ab259/su7kids/SDZ%20Pandas/
Holly, do you ever make the little noises, little cloud does during his exams, when you are with him, and if so, does he take notice? If you haven’t yet, would you try and see what his reaction is? I find myself doing it, of course I am by myself, and it’s under my breath, but it sounds so cute, and i don’t even realize i do it, until afterward….I think i am somewhat twisted….HEY! It could be ALOT worse….ha. and it HAS tapered off since we no longer get to view his exams….sigh……………
# 64- Francis. Thank you. I guess I missed ever seeing her receive food there. It must of been the camera focus because it didn’t look solid. It seemed more like liquid. I’m sure as you say it was her treats. Have you been enjoying our frigid weather?
What is meant by “Yun Zi follows Bai through the tunnels for the debut”? Will you please describe the tunnels.
I still want to pick Yun up (before he gets too heavy to be picked up). He’s such a handsome little bear. Bai did good!!
Help Wanted: Staff needed to take care of giant panda cub, Yun Zi. Responsibilities include gently petting, scooping up, and cuddling a giant panda cub of immeasurable cuteness. The successful applicant will have tremendous willpower and be able to resist squeezing, tickling, and kissing the panda cub all over his adorable fluffy body in order to return him safely to his mother, Bai Yun. Applications are especially encouraged from individuals able to sing gentle lullabys and read bedtime stories to the 5 month old giant panda cub.
I think I would fail the interview at the willpower point
Holly, I could not be more jealous of your job!!! Working 12 hour days in a job that brings me no joy, I get through it dreaming of cuddling with a baby panda! You actually get to live the dream! Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Holly, Oh how I wish I had your job just like all other panda fans. To be able to hold Yun Zi would be a dream come true and to be able to kiss him would be the ultimate!!!! Thank you for sharing your story.
Holly doyou want to switch jobs for a week? How I would love to be in your shoes!!!
Just caught our Yun Zi sleeping away in the den. I thought he was too old for that but it looks like that is his comfort place. How long will he have access to the den? At some point do you just close the door?
Moderator’s note: The den is closed when the pandas no longer use it.
aaahhh… little fella still likes to sleep in the den. You can tell he has grown. What a cutie….
Yun Zi always looks so cute and cuddly even when he is sleeping. I am also part of the Braunston Pandarazzi even though I am mainly elsewhere. When he is up and about he is such a bundle of fun and a joy to watch.
All of you most wonderful people with cameras…. We get to see pictures, video and all kinds of cool stuff here … However, I am CERTAIN people would LOVE to see you having to wake up our poor little baby!!! The mental pictures of him rolling over (just like my own children do) saying “OH COME ONE JUST FIVE MORE MINUTES” Is close to enough… but a video of this action… OFF THE SCALE CUTE!!! When you are forced to do this action.. could you bribe one of the other keepers to take a video camera along with you??? Our baby is getting so cute when he wakes up outside he looks around like “How exactly did I get her… Oh Mommy come here I want to bite your back side again” Bai is so in for it over the next few months! No wonder she didn’t push him to become more active! Based on his current size and the charts so far… I think Pan Pan may have a grand baby about to out do him! Also, could you all confirm based on the close up’s I have seen… SL looks like her mommy in the face and ZZ looks more like her daddy? I keep going back to look at pictures and that is as close as I can get. Am I correct? And if they look like them do they have other traits like this? Panda nuts world wide would love to know!
#11. that was funny. too funny. my feelings exactly. i’m not surprised we don’t catch a quick glance from all of the handlers every so often, straight into the camera, as if to say………..ha ha, look what i get to do!!!! hee hee hee.
Just watched the NZ on Daniel’s webpage as Tian Tian and Mei Xiang visited at their howdy gate and Mei Chirped a greeting while Tian bleeted back….Let’s all hope that the 2 AI’s worked as it would be great to have a cubby to follow once Tai departs us soon….It was funny watching Yunior last night as he decided to back down the branch that allows him on and off the platform and his belly got hung up on the end of the log keeping his rear legs off of the log until he did a pushup that finally allowed him to back down….LOL….It won’t be long until he runs up and down the log….
Moderator, did we ever find out what happened with camera 15 last week as the camera was cutting in and out on Friday then was clear suddenly the clearest it’s ever been but showing a message for setup on the screen ?….Also any chance that the den cam could be swapped out to allow night views of the platform now that the denning phase is coming to an end?…..
“Panda peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things…..”
Moderator’s note: Whatever happened on Friday night with the Cam seems to have been resolved. We do not have any plans to swap cameras at this time.
I can’t wait to see him …I’m just about 5 hours drive to SDZ..I better do it soon, before he gets bigger and bigger..
# 59, Rebecca, just this morning I passed “Camp Run-a-mutt” or something, right near the airport, which is quite close to the zoo (we see the planes flying over the zoo). Just looked they have a website camprunamutt dot com. So funny that you asked and I just noticed it today. Can’t recommend or anything, because i am not familiar with them, just saw them. But I bet if you google “doggy day care san diego” or something you can find something. Enjoy. And yes, later is better, but the lines were LONG yesterday.
Just posted a Yun Zi video from Monday afternoon
Great close-up camera work of Yun Zi napping on the platform in the Garden Room; Bai joins him to eat her treats, but then leaves. Later he sees Bai walking around and is inspired to join her…he goes BACKWARD down the log (never have seen this on Pandacam), off the platform to play with Bai’s bamboo! Then back up he goes!
The link for “Yun Zi “Logs” A New Milestone!!” is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWpQjS6fmIQ
Holly, I’ve seen you arrive on Pandacam to come scoop up the little guy!! Once saw 3 of you hovering over him in the hammock!! Rough job…but someone has to do it!! LOL!!
Thank you for the wonderful Blog!
#56 Corene, I have often wondered that as well. Moderator: Could you please forward the suggestion to the proper people, that some of us folks out here in cyber-land would be very interested to be able to view a diagram of the layout of panda-land? Thanks….
#88 DoxieMom, I don’t suppose you managed to capture some of those “rough job” moments in your videos….?
Moderator’s note: For the safety of our animals, we do not publish layouts of the animal bedroom areas.
Little Lin Ping take a big fall for the top of a tree momma came running over to check her out and drag her back to the door. Her keeper bought her in and check Lin out it looked like everything was ok she was up and running all around. Baby pandas must be made out of steel.
Hi all Pandaholics.
#88 Doxiemom, your latest video ‘YUN ZI LOGS A new milestone is great. I love seeing him go down the log and then manage to go back up it. He is getting around so good now. Thanks so much for posting these videos for us. They are the high light of my day.
I know that the webcams don’t have sound, but I wondered if the keepers could tell us if the pandas make sounds during their activities?? Specifically, does Mama Bai “talk” to Cubby?
A question to the mass panda nuts I have grown to love!!! Do you all feel that ZZ looks most like Daddy GG and SL looks most like her Mommy? I mean the older SL gets the more (in the face) she looks like her most beautiful mother!!! Can’t really tell for sure yet which or if it’s a mix on Yunior yet… but to the masses… Do you all feel the same way about our girls?
Brandy #75–I think you can see everything I was talking about in the video that DoxieMom #88 just posted.
As for our weather here in NY, I just tell myself the pandas would love it!
# 70 Panda Fan–Canadians get around-I am one. My family moved to the Greater San Diego area in 1957 when I was 11-and except for 2 years when I was married to the navy I have lived here ever since-even though I am still Canadian-along with my older sister.
# 73 Susan–thank you so much for the photo bucket pics…they are great.
A big thank you to all of you who share links with us for photos, videos, etc. I have been compiling a list of them to send to my daughter in Texas, but I can look forward to watching many videos on the days that have no new ones. The things you all share with us can keep us going on a “rainy” day….the list will benefit me also. It is quite long already, and that is from the last 3 blogs alone. All of you are very special, along with the staff, blog writers, moderators. Etc. who help keep us up to date and the beautiful pandas healthy and happy.
Because of a virus problem I have only been able to read the blogs and not comment since Prince Royal Fluffy Butt’s birth-but now that my son has cleaned me up and installed Windows 7 I get in on the fun too. I have been reading the blog long enough to feel like many of you are old friends. Thank you all who participate online….love 3 m grammmie
Susan #73: Great video of the elephants!!! Thanks for posting!
Gosh, we are all so grateful for the work you do!
Doximom # 88: Adorable
Tina #93, I was watching Su Lin a little earlier and, apart from her being the most gorgeously beautiful panda I was also thinking that she is the spitting image of her mother. Then the cam went on to Zhen Zhen, head hanging over the edge of a tree branch and I thought more of a mix of Bai and Gao. Then a very cheeky cam operator turned the cam onto ZZ’s behind! Very nice too!
Hi Holly … and all the Panda Keepers,
I’m taking the time right now just to watch Bai Yun and Yun Zi on the Panda Cam, and enjoying their quality time in the Garden Room. The two of them are wonderful and pretty incredible … just to watch them. All the Pandas are so loved! Bai and Yun Zi share such love and caring for each other. Many thanks to the SD Zoo and Staff for all that everyone does, and also for bringing us “Panda Fans” the live Panda Cam feed. I’ll be visiting Yun Zi and his Mom real soon on Valentine’s Day!
Thanks so very much for everything!
how many times a day do they give Bai the bamboo?
Hello Moderators or Panda Staff. After today’s lengthy play time around 11 am I got to wondering if mama and cubby ever vocalize when they are rough housing like they were? It was such a delight to watch. Hes a little pest, although an adorable one, and she is just so very patient!
I watch Ling Ping in the mornings when SDZ is still dark. This morning she was laying in her water bowl (?) by the front of her cage. She was on her head and had her back feet stuck through the bars. Her keeper came over and gave her a couple scratches and played with her paws for a few seconds and pushed her paws back through the bars, then left. She promptly put her back paws back through the bars and I think she was pretending to be stuck so he would come back over and help her…. which he did… then gave her more scratches and rubs and played with her paws… she was eating it up!! She is one smart little panda…
Who operates the pandacam and how did they get that job?
Moderator’s note: We have volunteers for that job.
Moderator: Has Yun Zi started eating/mouthing foods yet? He seems to be slow to learn, but I can never be too sure with that boy!
I can’t wait until I can go to the SD Zoo to see Yun Zi and all my other panda friends,too!
Wow! What a wonderful trip we had to WAP on Saturday, and SDZ yesterday. Now I am back in COLD Virginia. The high today is the same as the nighttime low in SD this week (40 degrees F).
Kay, it was great to meet you. If I remember correctly we not only share red hair, we also share the same birthday. Angie, I am glad I got a chance to meet you and have a quick conversation while you got Zhen Zhen’s “dinner” ready. Hope I didn’t delay you , as I know she is like the rest of her family and likes to get back to her boo as quickly as possible.
For those who haven’t been, it is worth all the effort you can make to go to both SDZ and WAP. They are very different, but make a complete picture. Everything you read here comes to life when you see it in person.
In 22 years many improvements have been made, but I could still remember many things I saw on my last visit in 1987. We got to see two polar bears from the top of the bus, and through the mesh, even though their exhibit is closed to the public. For those planning to visit after March 26, 2010, you are in store for an incredible visitor experience with new features in the exhibit and up close encounters with the bears at the new viewing area.
Somehow I will find a way to go back as soon as possible. I sure don’t want to wait another 22 years.
Thanks Zoological Society of San Diego, and all the staff and volunteers, for an outstanding visitor experience, and for the world class care provided to the animals. In my view, you continue to be the top zoological institution in the world.
#93 Tina: I agree with you that Su Lin looks more and more like Bai Yun every day and ZZ looks alot like her daddy. HOwever there are times depending on the angle they are sitting at when I see Gao Gao in Su Lin and Bai Yun in ZZ! That makes me happy as Gao tends to get forgotten sometimes once a cub comes along and he is out of sight – so to see his mannerisms or facial expressions in his offspring brings a smile to my face! We miss you Gao Gao!
Love the stories, no matter how short. Always make me smile
Love spending my few extra minutes watching Yun Zi whether he is sleeping or playing…he always brightens my day! Can’t wait till I can make it out there to see the whole gang!
If the world would stop what it’s doing for a moment to take a peek at Yun Zi, at peace with himelf in the honeysuckle, or cozily curled atop the platform… imagine how differently our world might “spin”. What is it really all about? It is time to ask a little bear.
#94 Frances. Yes that was it. DoxieMom’s video was better focused and I cound see it was indeed food. I also missed seeing him climbing down the log off the platform. Who thinks our little guy is slow. Smart and brave and not even 6mos. old. Frances, do you think we can convince SDZ to allow Bai and Yunior to visit us and enjoy the frigid weather? They can stay with you a few days and with me a few days. You can take them to a Broadway show, maybe a Disney feature. I can let them play in the snow in the woods. With me ofcourse. LOL Can you imagine what the neighbors would say!
Here’s a video from earlier today, Tuesday
Yun Zi practices his climbing skills on a limb, but then Bai enters the picture! I don’t know if this is a behavior seen in all panda cubs, but Yun Zi loves to back into/up onto objects and his mother!! He did it repeatedly in this video…something I find hysterical! Bai’s reaction was priceless, too!!
The link for “Yun Zi’s Workout Session!” is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkFZb72qa6k&feature=sub
Carolyn in Monterey #89, I have captured some Keeper moments with Yun Zi, but usually they cut to another exhibit when a human enters the picture…after all, it’s all about the pandas!! I respect, admire and am eternally grateful for all that they do for our beloved pandas (and I try to respect their privacy)!! Thank you Panda Team!!
Yun Zi was so cute yesterday. Sleeping when first on exhibit, but when the long line got to see him at 11 he was in constant motion, checking out everything, especially his pool. He loves playing with Bai Yun, and she seems to enjoy it too. As we left the exhibit he stayed behind to explore the pool on his own, while Bai Yun wandered off elsewhere. I didn’t see where she went, but based on what was written above, she might have gone inside for a few minutes because it was getting close to Bai Yun’s lunch time. Yun Zi did not seem to care that his mother was not immediately close by. He was about 6 feet from Narrator Kay, whom he is obviously familiar with. Kay told a cute story of Yun Zi’s learning about the moat and “No” that I hope she will share with the Panda bloggers. It was amazing to check on the Panda Cam today and see that he was in the exact same place at the same time 24 hours later. Only this time the keepers had filled the pool with a couple of inches of water and floated a ball in it. He just loves exploring this area and getting a drink from inside the pool and from the rim. Watch the time lapse closely to see how he does it.
He is quite big actually. He now weighes 22-23 pounds and is quite agile on his feet. It is really fun to seem him run across the exhibit and attack the logs and start to climb. I can’t believe how quickly he has learned to run and climb. I got a video of him leaning into the pond and Bai Yun coming up behind him and dragging him away. He played with her for a minute and went right back to the pond. The second time she left him to play there. I remember when Zhen was first in the front exhibit that on one particular day she wanted to climb the tree there. For reasons I never heard explained, Bai Yun kept grabbing her and pulling her down from the tree. Then proceeded to drag her all around the exhibit. Not sure why Bai was teaching that lesson because Zhen had already been in the tree for several days before this happened, and when Bai Yun finally let her go, she went right up into the tree. Perhaps Panda Kindergarten lesson that day was that when you are threatened you climb the tree and stay there high out of reach??
We had the awesome opportunity to see a days old Zebra colt, and a 5 day old Giraffe with its umbilical cord still attached. Izu mated with one of the females while we were at the WAP, so hopefully there will be more Lion cubs in 2010. Glad to hear that Nyack and one of his “sisters” will be going together to Honolulu Zoo when there new exhibit is ready. It will be great for each of them to be with a “sibling” that they know well. And, since they are not blood related, they may be a good breeding match. His life story is a great testament to the love and dedicated care given to all the animals at both SDZ and WAP. His parents are on display in their new yard in Elephant Odyssey, but he grew up with the pride of cubs at WAP. Read previous blogs to learn more.
As you can see, I am still excited about my trip, and memories keep flooding back. I hope to share them in small snipits, because I enjoy reading about other bloggers’ visits to SDZ and WAP. Their experiences make me feel like I was there with them. For many of us who live thousands of miles away, we don’t get to visit often, if ever, and enjoy a virtual visit through the eyes and ears of others.
Char, #100, Kay commented on the sounds that Bai Yun and Yun Zi were making when they were playing yesterday. Bai made a noise to get his attention, and he made a cry when she grabbed him by the neck fur and dragged him away from the moat. I have heard Tian Tian and Mei Xiang wrestling at NZP in DC and they make quite a range of vocalizations when they play.
One more video from today, Tuesday!!!
This is just PRECIOUS!!! 
Early this afternoon Yun Zi encountered some water in the pond. His ball was also in the middle of the pond!! What would he do!!?? I did the video in real time so you’d see his reaction… it’s only 2 minutes! A short one for me, lol!!
The link for “Yun Zi Encounters Water in the Pond!” is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0w0i-qvK9o
Brandy #108–I think that’s a spectacular idea! Yun Zi will have lots of (stuffed) friends to play with and Bai Yun can visit one of the nearby day spas for a day of relaxation and pampering.
I think that both Su Lin and Miss ZZ look exactly like Bai Yun, though I haven’t seen them in person. I see a bit of Gao Gao’s posture in Su Lin when I see her in profile but, unlike a lot of bloggers, I don’t seen Gao Gao in Zhen Zhen. I suspect Yun Zi will look more like Gao Gao than his mom.
I wish I could give them all a hug!
#88 DoxieMom…..loved the video and he seemed so sleepy…..never really woke up but went down the log and then decided to go back up the log to go back to sleep!
I do realize he seems to back into or onto things…..love it when he is trying to get his little squishy butt lined up with the log to come down…..he really works at it.
It was strange to view Bai Yun just sitting there while he played….she looked like she was posing….and for once not eating or sleeping but looking around her area. Not used to seeing the pandas not eating all the time….
I want to wake up our little chub muffin. What a great job to have. Doxiemom, as usual, I am loving the videos. Finally seeing him get down from the platform alone was a treat. I saw him sleeping in the den this morning, it is still his comfort place. I would love to get there while he is still small and playing so much. Bai seems a bit tired today. I think cubbie is wearing her out, hopefully she is just a bit sleepy today and all is well with her. Her time with him is adorable, I love how her boo seems to come first at times though! What happens when he starts eating boo, will she share willingly?
Camera operators, thanks for doing such a great job. Loved seeing the girls today, they are beautiful!
Ah the panda is so cute he is so small and should stay that way but he cant because of mother nature I remember when I first so the pandas in 2004 I say Hun Mei right before she went back to China. But Yung Zi is going to be cool. San diego does natural breeding which is think is better for an a endangered animal.
Blogger, I apologize in advance…….I’ve had no time to watch the cam, videos or read the posts here very carefully. I miss them ALL – but I swore I read some nice person did a facebook page for the panda fans/convention. I scanned the posts tonight, and can’t find the post/link. Can anyone help me, please? I want to be up to date on the convention, but being a small business owner (and I mean SMALL) sometimes work takes way tooooooo much of my time. Thank you in advance to you all.
So I get a couple of minutes tonight to check our pands, and there’s nothing to see at SDZ. So sad! Lin Ping in getting loves, and treats in Thailand. I missed her fall (probably a good thing). But it is obvious how much she is loved by her keepers.
Thanks again!
Moderator’s note: Check Comment #193 on the previous post.
Aww the baby panda is so so cute! I wish I could hold the panda! I got like little stuffed panda bears all around my bedroom I love them!
# 73 Thank-You for the videos….I also have an immense respect for Asian Elephants and we have an ongoing relationship every year at 2 Fairs in NJ the end of June into July and August….Beaulah the Elephant gives rides at the petting Zoo and is a 40 year old sweet heart that we befriended several years ago on a rainy day when their were few visitors at the NJ State Fair … We gave her some fruit that a grocery store was giving away for free that day with her handlers permission ….It was an instant bond and when ever we see her now she comes to the fence to be patted and talked to,and yes get a snack…..The day before the Fair opens in August anybody that knows our sweetheart of an elephant knows to come and watch her take her annual swim in a pond on the NJ Fairgrounds….. LOL….I also like the view of the hanging enrichment for Bai Yun and Yun Zi and can’t wait to see Yunior attack it as well…..LOL……
I am still hopefull that Lynn will be released and in condition to travel as we want to see Yunior live and in person along with all the others now signed up for the Pandaholics Convention Information on the Facebook Panda-Fandom Worldwide web page as our Family Grows in numbers faster than Yunior grows…. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=272470520621
It’s also a great page with links to keep all of the GPF’s informed about all different wildlife as well as Pandas….Also go to the SDZ’s Facebook Page as well for more Panda Overload….LOL
http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=28896772146&share_id=202203732617&comments=1s202203732617
“Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things…..”
Xi Lan and Lun Lun were having a big wrestling match yesterday. He really looked quite vicious, biting his Mum, climbing high on her back where she couldn’t reach him and biting, then being dragged along the ground grabbing onto her back end while she walked off. What a pawfull!!
right now i dont see them i think yun zi is with his mom
#113, DoxieMom, thanks for the short video. It is so precious to see Yun Zi finding new things to explore. I cannot always take the time to watch an 8 or 9 minute video, and I really appreciate this one. All too soon he will be up in the trees, not moving, and inaccessible to see on cam or video. We better enjoy it now. Thanks.
Has anybody else noticed that it looks like Xi Lan in Atlanta is now being separated from Mommie Monster in the afternoons? I know that they were getting ready to start the weaning process, but they have been pretty mum on the details. I think they just don’t want all of us Panda lovers to contact them about how sad Xi Lan is looking. Yesterday, around 4 p.m., he seemed to look lost – he was just sitting and looking around as if to say, “why am I alone?” His movements seemed to be extra slow. This is the saddest part for all of us that love our Pandas. We know the reasons why, but our hearts hurt for our little cubbies. Hang in the Xi Lan, you and all of us will get through this.
Gotta love those cubbies!
Doximom #113: What a cutie Yun Zi is! I loved his paw prints when he exited the pool
And, the work out session with Bai….I love to watch her as she watches him 
Thanks for creating the movies.
Doxiemom I just love to watch your videos. I sit there and watch one after the other. Our little Yun zi is so darling. I am gong to see him next week….weather permitting. I heard that there is rain forecast …does that mean that the pandas will be inside? Moderator – can you help with my question? I am so longing to see all the pandas and our trip is already scheduled . Baring any unforseen problems we will be there on Monday, Jan. 18th. Sure hope we get to see our treasures! I would be so depressed not to get to see them. We will be there Monday through Thursday for ‘many’ visits I hope.
Moderator’s note: The pandas (and panda narrator) are usually out on rainy days. Sometimes they are the only ones there!
#116 Linda in Pittsburgh – You said, “I would love to get there while he is still small and playing so much.” – I thought the same thing when I hurried to visit ZZ in March 2008 when she was only 7 months old. However, after seeing the videos of ZZ as she got older, I realized that the play actually becomes more frequent because they get more and more curious and they are also stronger physically. It’s so great to see how they find joy in anything new that they see (or feel, or smell). So, I think anytime is a good time to watch a panda playing. You should see Tai’s mom Mei Xiang in Washington D.C. “plow” through all the snow they got recently – she looks like a bulldozer!! Too funny!!
#118 Linda A./Norcal – there is a video of Lin Ping’s fall on youTube. Just search for “panda lin ping.” The fall does not come until very close to the end and you don’t actually see her land on the ground (thank goodness). She was quite fine right after that as mom Lin Hui checked her out.
Holly, you’ve got the best job ever!
Moderator and Panda Research Team……With the AI’s completed in Memphis and National Zoo I was curious on how soon a hopeful pregnancy shows up on Ultrasound and if urine samples can also be used to verify what we GPF’s all hope for 2 full term pregnancies with 2 or more cubbies soon to join us?
“Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things……”
Moderator’s note: See post Bai Yun and Gao Gao.
Where is Yun Zi and momma? It’s 11:30ish EST.
Pandafan-North #127: I tried looking for the Ling Ping video but I’m just not finding it… does it have a title? The latest one I could find was dated 1-9-10 – Ling Ping and her mother playing. I’m growing fond of Ling Ping. She’s funny… she’s been sleeping alot this morning… Thanks for the help finding that video…
With Bai Yun on top of the tree and little Yun Zi on the bottom, it looks like SDZ provided this little family with bunk beds! I wish I could go to San Diego to see them.
Hi there. My friend from work went to the SDZ and she made a point to see “my little friend” for me. What was he doing…… sleeping….lol. She texted me and told me she couldn’t really see him because he was rolled up in a ball. Figures! I thought it was so funny. She saw Big Momma though. Yun Zi does what I love to to…. rest & sleep. Nice to meet some of you on FB.
Here is one more video from yesterday, Tuesday!
This one picks up where “Yun Zi’s Workout Session!” (#109) stopped. Yun Zi and Bai had a big wrestling match, as Susan (UK) #121 described it! Wonderful camera work reduced the amount of glare and produced some incredible close-ups of Yun Zi and Bai, no editing required!!
The link for “Yun Zi’s Wrestling Match!” is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOqYWH5bYVU
I founded several videos of Lin Ping with her mother Lin Hui outside on YouTube:
Panda Linping falls!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ-ISIkCi6c
Lin Ping, Thailand’s Baby Panda Plays With Mother Lin Hui
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UvwLQMMnks
Lin Ping, Thailand’s Baby Panda Plays Alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxgKPwgkeAQ&NR=1
LinHui LinPing Panda.3GP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sWHPEOiHgM
I’m now back in PA’s 30 degree weather after returning less than 12 hours ago from SD’s 70+ weather. What a fabulous week! As Margaret in VA stated, it’s too much to write in one blog. I visited SDZ 3 days – one before YZ’s debut, his debut day, and Saturday.
Debbie aka moderator – I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you on debut morning, but I did chat with fans Peggy and Molly. Yun Zi definitely has a pattern. Both days I saw him, he and Bai were sleeping the first time through. He is such a cute ball of fur curled up on the hammock. The next time (or maybe the third – I lost count after a while) Bai was awake. Then finally they were both awake. They played together awhile, but sometimes they each did their own thing. At one point Narrator Kay was trying to keep her eyes on YZ about to fall in the moat while also trying to remind the crowd not to say anything if he fell. Shortly thereafter, Bai calmly walked over, picked him up, and carried him toward the back.
I must of taken hundreds of animal pictures throughout the week, especially the panda family. Every pose is worth remembering. Of course I had to make a few “panda purchases” in the gift shop to go along with my “perfect panda pictures”, as the narrators said to the guests while they moved us along.
Moderator’s note: I’m sorry I missed you, too! The next time I’m visiting the pandas, I’ll wear my moderator “badge”!
OMG…so cute. I don’t know WHAT Bai Yun and Yun Zi rolled in, but they are in the box playing and it looks like they had a blast today!!!
Bai certainly loves her sawdust box The Queen B looks just like a young cub rolling around in it and doing half somersaults… I’d love to see a picture of her when she was Yuniors age..
Moderater: Do the keepers put fresh sawdust in her box every day? It looks like she kicks alot of it out when she plays in it…
Moderator’s note: Fresh every day!
# 124 Jane – I’ve seen the momma panda in Atlanta being referred to as Mommie Monster before. What did she do to earn that nickname? There is a very entertaining video on YT of her and her cubbie. I don’t have the link here at work, but it’s something about him getting his first set of wheels. I was laughing so much watching that.
Just too cute this morning! Bai and Yun Zi playing in the box of wood shavings. Bai even did a somersault! I’m sure DoxieMom will catch it on video. When Yunior headed for the pond, Bai pulled him back to play some more! They are still “wrestling” now at 10:45 am. What fun!!!!!!
Thank You for the info.Moderator on Panda Pregnancies……Just go tdone watching Tai walk in and out of his transport case,and he actually rested in it for a few moments..Now watching the SDZ Sawdust wrestling match in the outdoor plywood cave….LOL…This was after Yunior attacked Bai Yun and she used her left rear paw to hold him off as if saying ” Talk to the Paw”…LOL…..She then followed yunior to the sawdust and the play time is fast and furious…..I also agree that Yun Zi is Bai Yun’s Fountain of Youth as short of snow enrichment days I can’t recall her enjoying herself as much as she does with a cub….LOL….As Yunior decided to walk away Bai grabbed him back by his tail from the water area and started another wrestling/cleaning match….Yunior took a good licking but is still ticking…LOL….Moderator: What type of saw dust is it as Bai Yun sure does seem to like its fragrance as she rolls around paws in the air?… Yunior does appear to be drinking water today first licking the drain by the outside water fountain and now from the water in the basin before Mom came over and rolled him away back to the sawdust for her Chinese acrobat Yunior Juggling routine making Yunior look like a soccer ball …LOL…
” Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things…..”
Didn’t add before I hit submit – GREAT camera work volunteers!!!! Thank you SO much.
OMG He is WAY up in the trees! Way to go Yun Zi!
Little Yunior was climbing pretty high up that tree a few mins. ago. I keep seeing Lin Ping fall and cringed.
Yunior is now WAY up in the trees… higher than the tree platform that he and Bai take naps in… (EST 2:20)
I did see the video where Lin Ping fell from the tree and Mom came and drug her into their “den”. I think the keeprs wanted to check her out…
Moderator: If Yunior falls from any great height at this young age, would the keepers check him out to make sure all is okay? He really is up there high this time… Thank you!!
Moderator’s note: The keepers would certainly check him out if he did not seem to recover from a fall. For some reassurance, please read the post Reaching New Heights.
Just a quick thank you to our dear moderator for the FB info. And thank you to Liana, and all those who contributed to the FB page. Great job………….I did sneak a glance at our boy this morning, and he was being adorable as always. But missed the sawdust fun.
Thanks again everybody. Now back to work.
OMG i cant believe what i just watched up that tree i need a strong drink wonderful job baby bear!!!!
I absolutely love watching Yun Zi climb. He is getting steadier on his feet each day and likes coming down ‘commando’ style, meaning face first. Sure Bai Yun does the same thing but she is so much bigger and the claws so much longer to act as brakes.
Hi, you all! Just watched little Yuni having a great time with his mom, Bai, on the pandacam today! They were having a great time wrestling inside this huge box that’s sitting on its side with alot of sawdust in it! They were both covered with that sawdust as they rolled around in it. Then, Yuni decided to do some climbing up to that little platform, then got down from that and went to the pond that had a little bit of water in it. It looked like Yuni was either smelling or drinking the water out of that pond! Then, he went over to the little stump and climbed all the way to the top of it! Alot of fun watching Yuni today! I know that Doxiemom will have a video up later on about Yuni’s day. Thanks, Doxiemom!
Got on the National Zoo website today to check on the pandacams on the panda page, and noticed a headline about panda breeding season. I said, WHAT?? So, I went to the update on the panda page and found out that Mei Xiang had her estrus 5 months earlier than last year–in JANUARY! So, the panda keepers let Mei and Tian Tian be together for a few hours to see if they can mate naturally, and when they saw that they could not get that going, they decided to do the AI procedure on Mei. The zoo vets did the artificial insemination procedure twice on Mei–Sat. nite, Jan. 9, then on Sun., Jan. 10, using Tian’s semen. So, now the countdown and the wait has started for Mei to see if she will get pregnant again. They are really hoping that Mei will have her second cub by later this spring or early summer now that Tai Shan will be leaving for China. The keepers are also planning a farewell party for Tai Shan on Jan. 30th before he leaves for China. They are inviting everybody to come to see Tai and wish him a safe trip.
I mentioned about Ya Ya having her early estrus in Nov., 2009, and had an AI procedure done. I wrote to Memphis Zoo’s panda keepers on email to get more info on the exact dates of Ya Ya’s AI procedure, and when they expect to have a cub. The PI email newsletter I got mentioned that the MZ panda keepers are hoping for a baby cub by March, 2010. So, I just want to get more info about that and how Ya Ya is doing. They didn’t have anything about this on their panda blog when I checked it.
So now, we have 2 female pandas hoping to have baby pandas by later this spring, and 3 pandas leaving for China this year. A busy panda year!
I know this is off subject, but I would like for all of us to pray for the people of Haiti. Haiti had a very devastating 7.0 earthquake late yesterday afternoon, and the situation there is not good at all. Relief help is starting to come into the country right now.
Well, gonna go and look in on the pandacams again. Will be back later on! Oh yeah, loved the last 2 articles about Yuni! They were fun to read about this little playful cub!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Yun Zi was really reaching the heights in the trees today @ 11:30 San Diego time.
Looked scary and took him awhile to try and get down.
Mama Bai wandered over and maybe in Panda talk showed him the way down..on his tummy.
When he came to earth he safely followed Mama around, until something else caught his eye.
I hope Doxie Mom filmed this episode…it was priceless…as is Doxie Mom!!!!
I have a question: Why is the room where Bai & Yun sleep called the Garden Room? Thank You!
Oops! It was 11:30 AM…….San Diego morning time….sorry.
Really, it’s lights out at 11:30 PM.. I am unable to see Panda activities at night at SDZ.
I first noticed the box today which I think is in the classroom exhibit. Is that for sleeping in or playing in? Haven’t seen it before.
Moderator’s note: It’s there (and has been there since the exhibit opened) for anything the panda pair may want to do
Whew! That was so scary watching Little Cloud having problems getting down from that high platform. I had just watched that video of Lin Ping falling yesterday, which made it all the worse… When he managed to get into that cluster of swaying leaves I just knew it wasn’t going to turn out well. Ha!! But our wee Panda Prince finally got things all sorted out
Momma Bai Yun is such a champ!! She kept trying to reach him and couldn’t. She tried climbing that limb, then tested it and decided against it. She tried getting on her belly and inching out but that wouldn’t work either. Then she tried standing up and reaching over and that wouldn’t work. She kept looking right at the camera and I felt like she wanted someone to help. Was she vocalizing for help because I saw her mouth opening a lot. Bless her heart, she is just so amazing
I just posted a fairly short video (4 min) from today, Wednesday, Yun Zi’s 23rd week birthday!!
This one shows 2 scenes involving water, but beyond that, since no one has mentioned it in the blog yet, I don’t want to give away the new milestone that he achieved on Pandacam today ~ something we’ve never seen him do!!! Go Yun Zi!!
The link for “Yun Zi: Water Boy!” is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdegidipx7Y
Georgie #150, I have Yun Zi’s climb up the tree structure footage! I’ll work on that video next for all those that missed his incredible journey to what looked like the very top!!!
#153 Tiny: I know just what you are saying. I was sitting here with my heart in my mouth! But the little scamp did manage it just fine eventually. Heavens, its just like watching my own kids take their first steps,first bike ride, etc…
Do hope Doxie Mom, our hero, got that on tape!
#153 Tina: I was nervous too… I just knew he was going to fall when he left the little platform and was on a flimsy part of the tree. I had just seen little Lin Ping’s video of her fall too… Amazing…I couldn’t keep watching Yunior because I’m at work so I didn’t know if he got safely down, then when I flipped back to see what happened, it was just the exhibit.. no pandas anywhere… I was glad to see your blog…
DoxieMom… hoping you have the video of Bai coming to the little fella’s rescue.
I know the keepers and our wonderful Moderator keeps telling us they are “built” to take falls, but we Pandaholics tend to fret about our Pandas…
Love the water boy video Doxie Mom!!! Thanks cam operators…… You have to watch it, I won’t tell what he did!
You all asked for the Yun Zi climbing video, now here it is!! I could not find any of the footage to edit out… it was all so incredibly captivating, so it is in 3 parts!! (I hear the groans now). I’ve uploaded Part 1 and Part 3 as they show Yun Zi going up the tree structure, and then back down. I’ll post the link for Part 2 as soon as I can ~ it shows what Yun Zi did up there during those missing 10 minutes!!
The link for “Yun Zi: Reaching New Heights!” Part 1 is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yumIFEl6dVI
The link for “Yun Zi: Reaching New Heights!” Part 3 is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsTkJnNcIXk
Georgie #150, thanks for the assist in naming the videos!!!
Doxie Mom – Thank you for the Water Boy video! I SO hope you have snippets of the earlier sawdust play as well – that was SO precious! (actually, thank you for ALL your wonderful videos!)
Thanks DoxieMom!!! That was so much fun. What a scamp. Cam operators-you are just the BEST!
Here is the promised link for Part 2 of “Yun Zi: Reaching New Heights”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMkyJvWn624
This was an incredible journey for a cub that seemed to be sleeping away his days in the den not that long ago!! I wanted to have the entire episode available for those that wanted to watch Yun Zi accomplish this from beginning to end!!
Doxiemom – the keepers at the NZ also noticed Tai backed into them – guess he felt his backside was safe as it was well padded:)
And to whoever asked why Lun’s (ZA) nickname is Mommie Monster – here’s one example – check out youtube -
Xi Lan – My Twip to Hell and Back!
#136, PA Fan, sorry I missed you when you were at the zoo. We ended up going on Monday to avoid the crowd on Saturday. We were lucky enough to meet Debbie, Kay, and Keeper Angie in person. I also took tons of photos. I am trying to figure out how to share them with friends and family and other animal lovers, but there are so many I don’t know where is the best spot to “upload” them. For now they are on Facebook. We also got some great videos of Yun Zi, the Monkeys, and the Gorillas at WAP. The Gorillas, Elephants, an Izu the lion put on a great “show” for us.
I know what you mean about coming back to the extreme cold on the east coast. I shivered all day yesterday. Thankfully it is starting to warm back up to normal and I am adjusting from the balmy temps of SD.
I agree with Narrator Kay, Yun Zi sure does love his pool. It appears from my visit on Monday, and the time lapse videos, and DoxieMom you tube videos that he is on a schedule for playing in the pool from about 11:30-12:30. Bai Yun seems to be OK with this activity now, as I have not seen her pull him away since Saturday. She stays close by and checks occasionally, but she seems to be very relaxed with him playing in the pool with or without water in it, and climbing up high. It is hard to believe that just 7 days ago he was learning how to back down a log after climbing up to the sleeping platform or the the log in the exhibit. It is amazing how fast young cubs learn once they get mobile. I remember watching in awe and amazement when ZZ was the same age and just came out to the exhibit. I am so happy to see him explore and enjoying every minute before he climbs the tree to sleep up there motionless for hours of the day. I see that he really does have a 3-4 PM bedtime because he seems to sleep for at least 4 hours straight once he gets inside on the platform.
Looking forward to the tree climbing video.
Not sure he’ll ever be the tree panda his brother and sisters are, and he doesn’t seem to be a ground panda like his dad, but he’s definitely a water panda! Too cute.
Can you tell us how high Yun Zi climbed today ? In feet,inches,yards or meters.
It was a heart-stopping moment and I bet all the watchers were very worried !!
For a moment we thought he was going to try the wall.! Maybe that will come later?
Good grief..pandawatching is not easy on the nerves.
Yes I have read the blog on Zhen Zhen. Thank you.
Holly, thank you for the fun posting. You’ve got me, I am very jealous of you! What have you done so right to get such a “tough job”? I need to learn it from you.
I am so happy Yun Zi got down safely. No wonder Bai Yun did not want Yun Zi climbing.
) Yun Zi is such a feisty boy. =:) I saw a shirt today for big doggies. It said “The Ladies love me” with a heart on it. Here’s a thought. One day Yun Zi follows Bai Yun out of the gardenroom to meet his adoring fans. Here comes Yun Zi wearing his “The ladies love me” tee shirt and some cool shades. Yun Zi waves to his adoring fans. 
)
Loved the last video……had to laugh at mom’s actions.
I guess the photos are clear later in the morning since the sun comes up on the left side of the exhibit. Once camera’s water splashed lens is in the shade, the pictures are better.
Its going to rain the week of the 18th……so bring jackets to the zoo. I just hope they keep the plastic lens covers wiped clean for us…..the one by the pool is, I think, the one right above the narrator. Could be reached with a ladder. Perhaps put a metal cover over it like an overhang to prevent rain spots.
I love it when Mom covers her ears to protect them from his bites.
I also notice that half the time she is the one that starts the romping and rolling. The other times he seems to bother her while she is eating.
The pool is going to fill up with rain water unless the plug is pulled on it.
#139 Marie Lun Lun earned her Mommie Monster title for her relentless pursuit of her firstborn Mei Lan. Poor little Mei Lan would start to climb something….and ZOOM!! Lun was there to knock her off, tear her shown, shove her off! Lun REALLY did not like it when little Mei climbed any of the structures, LOL. She’s been a bit more laid back with Xi Lan, whether because he’s a boy or because he’s her second, who knows? But believe me, she did earn that nickname
I am from China. My friend and I love Yunzi very much! We want to introduce Yunzi and your zoo to Chinese children. Now we need some photos of Yunzi and it’s livingplace in your zoo. Could you help us?
Moderator’s note: There are some great photos of Yun Zi in our Photo Gallery.
Part 2 -
Yun Zi had no water in the pool yet when I was there last week, but he certainly does love to play in that area. Bai came and sat outside the pool but near. She sat up as if to say, “here is my son, and I am soooo proud.” Wonderful posing for pictures.
I was also fortunate to see him and Mom enjoying all the sawdust in the box. They both rolled in it. At one point Bai gave a loud sneeze while covered with sawdust. It was so comical! A little later Bai started pacing and bleating. Kay said it was about lunch time, and Bai was letting everyone know.
It was a pleasure speaking with Chris as well. She was narrator on Saturday. It is fun putting names with faces. I was dressed in black and white with my panda necklace, and several people commented.
However, it would be great to have that convention and meet so many of you fellow bloggers.
Once I have a chance to look at my pictures, I’m sure I’ll have more to say. One person with a better camera said she upgrades her camera each time there’s a new cub. Oh, to live nearby and be able to use my membership every week…
DoxieMom, Thanks for your video “Yun Zi: Reaching New Heights! ” in 3 parts. That little fellow is amazing; he didn’t panic and tried to find a way down after trying many times, many different approaches. Having the full moral support of mommy Bai Yun is helping for sure. What a smart, cleaver and brave little cub.
I also love “Yun Zi: Water Boy?” Bai Yun really did not like to have Yun Zi in HER drinker, the way she just kicked him off!! But sitting or standing in the drinker is something that Xi Lan does in Atlanta. Lun Lun is more gentle to get him off, and once she pushed him gently aside to drink, I then saw Xi Lan climbed on his mother and ending on her head while she was drinking and that did not stopped her. Those panda mothers are just amazing!!
Don’t miss the video called “The Way of the Panda” posted on the “Pandas Live On” website.
Oh Doxie Mom you just make my days!! Can I ask you a question? I’ve been saving all the videos to “my favorites” but since they are on youtube will they always be there? Could I just go to youtube and type in “yun zi” and access all of them? Sorry to be ignorant but am pretty new to this and am not sure how many of these I can save to my favorites. Thanks very much.
I just watched the video of Yun Zi’s climb. I was crying and praying the first time I saw it live, the second time I was crying as well. Oh, it is hard to watch what Yun Zi and Bai Yun went through, because of Yun Zi not listening to his momma. I noticed Bai Yun trying to get him down when he was lower. I noticed Bai Yun breathing fast when she was up there. I feel so much compassion for her. I am very grateful to the Lord for helping Yun Zi get down safely. The Lord is Good very Good. Yun Zi is important to me and so many others. I am grateful that he is safe.
I saw Yun Zi climb the tree yesterday and, like many of you, I had just (a few seconds earlier) finished watching Lin Ping fall (ouch). He was going like a steam train and I also thought he was going for the wall. But he just carried on climbing. I thought for a minute, when he reached the platform that he was going to take a nap but, no. I wonder what bedtime story Bai read him; What happens to naughty little pandas that climb high trees? Glad he’s OK. It’s 8am here and, much as I want to stay and watch your videos DoxieMom, I’ve got to do some shopping. I shall look forward to seeing them this evening (as well as trying to watch the new series of Heroes).
#139 Marie, you must watch all of Xi Lan’s exploits on YouTube. They are hilarious, as are the titles. I love Kwaken vs Da Mommie Monster and Too Cwose for Comfort, Eh! There are too many to mention.
Doxie Mom your videos of Little One trying to get down from his perch high above the trees were fantastic.
I sat here holding my breath knowing he was surely going to crash to the ground.
Mama Bai came to the rescue teaching him how to get down from that very high tree.
What awaits us today..Baby Pandas seem to have a very short memory?
These lessons in Panda #101 are so interesting…every day I learn something new.
I enjoy your videos DoxieMom…Thanks for your labors of love!
#139 Marie & #170 Mary — I like to think of Lun Lun as an extremely exuberant mother. She looks all rough and tumble with her cubbies, but you can tell she is thoroughly enjoying the Mommie Monster role. She teaches them well to be independent bears.
I saw this morning’s Video Cam of the Garden Room…now I understand why it is so named…
Doxie Mom….I am honored to have been a part of your video titles yesterday. You are the best!!!
Little Guy was sure watched with baited breath on his climb of Mt. Everest!
I betcha he does the same thing today. There’s no stopping him now.
He is a determined Panda, out to conquer the World.
…and he is loved by us all!
how high did little one climb off the ground on the 13th? I knew he got down ok but it was still scary to watch the tape.
Debbie the moderator – will there be a party/cake for Gao Gao’s anniversary/pseudo-birthday tomorrow?
Moderator’s note: Nothing has been planned, as Gao is off exhibit. But virtual hugs and good wishes are always welcome!
Please give Gao and extra scratch and some extra bamboo for his big day tomorrow.
Happy Anniversary/Birthday Gao Gao. You are the man!!! We seem to forget about you in all our panda talk. Hope you have a good one.
I noticed the other day that Bai got a little ‘rough’ when she was eating and Zun wanted to play. She seemed to back hand him several times, but he kept coming back. Then he decided to go at it from a different angle, so she used her leg to push him back! Is there any visible reaction when you pet them? Like a cat does, do they lift the head to show that there is a response? Also, do they get a bath at any time? How do you examine them when they get big enough to push you around? Do you sedate them to see if they are sick if they are not acting ‘normal”.
From watching off and on in the a.m. for several days, it seemed that he was very awake about ll:00 a.m. – just almost time to cut off the viewing.
Thanks again for a wonderful experience – viewing the actions of this independent Zun.
Moderator’s note: We let Bai Yun take care of Yun Zi bathing chores, and she does that whenever she feels it necessary. When a cub gets too large to handle safely, the vet check-ups turn into a once-a-year exam. The pandas at the San Diego Zoo are trained for certain veterinary procedures, but for a more thorough exam or veterinary procedure they would be sedated.
I love watching Bai Yun and Yun Zi, but Gao Gao, the Patriarch of the family should have a special day! Oh, please ask the people in charge to give him a special treat…how sad is would be if last year was his only time to have his own celebration.
Moderator’s note: I didn’t say he wouldn’t get a special treat, just that there would be no party at this time because the keepers are busy with a certain someone. Gao understands!
Thanks to everyone who answered me on Mommie Monster. I came across “Go baby Go” on YouTube over the weekend and was thoroughly entertained. I haven’t seen a funnier one yet, but I did watch a few this morning, that someone posted here. She’s definitely a determined mommie, but when she cuddles her cub, the tenderness and love is so evident. *sigh* Momma bai is a different type of momma bear, but they both teach their wee ones the best they can and this is evident by the older bears and how they behave. Yunior is so determined and never quits. I love seeing that.
Another question for Debbie the moderator.
Why is Gao Gao off exhibit? What determines which pandas will be on exhibt?
Thanks for all of your great incites and personal notes about the pandas.
Moderator’s note: I’ll have to forward that question to our Panda Team.
#175 Char, I’ve saved loads of YouTube videos (all pandas) to my favourites section. As long as the video is still posted, you should always be able to access the one you want.
I would like to give Gao Gao lots and lots of virtual hugs and a happy birthday for tomorrow. I hope his keepers will give him extra hugs and treats.
We have been watching yun zi from the day he was born here in the office at work and can’t get enough but my boss a I where wondering
the place he sleeps in the classroom his little hammock how did he know where to find it and that it was the place for to sleep? I was also
wondering is he drinking water now or just playing?
Moderator’s note: Yun Zi seemed to find that little hammock and make good use of it–very resourceful! He does lap at water now, mostly out of curiosity rather than thirst.
I get such a kick out of watching Yunior watching his mom and mimicking what she does. So cute to see him sit next to her while she is eating and mouthing his Boo. Bai picked up a piece of culm, Yunior picked up a piece about 3 times his length and held on. As one blogger once said, you could just here what he was thinking. Look Ma I’m a big boy now. I am fascinated with how obvious Bai is in her trainning and lessons and how quickly he gets it. Was watching alittle while ago. He was playing outside and before long all by himself he walked back to the bedroom climbed his log, licked his paw and fell asleep. Moderator i have not noticed the adult Pandas ever cleanning themselves. Have I just missed it or do they not partake in grooming themselves? I notice our Black Bears in our yard clean themselves alot. Especially after they devour our berry bushes
Very maticulas with their feet. Last question. How many species of Pandas are there? I know ofcourse Giant and Red Pandas. Are there more and if so are they all from China?
Moderator’s note: Once thought to be related, giant pandas and red pandas are now classified in different animal families. Here’s more info on giant pandas and red pandas.
I second the virtual hugs and good wishes for Gao Gao as I miss seeing him as well…Could we possibly get some pictures of him posted until he is back on exhibit?….Just watching the lesser Red Pandas play a game of tag at the NZ as they chased each other around their exhibit area….. LOL …Lets hope that the 2 AI’s at NZ and Memphis bring us some Panda babies in 2010…. The PandasLiveOn web site has a cute short video of Hua Mei’s little Panda Princess and she has her Grandmother Bai Yuns good looks…. I love the daily sawdust wrestling matches as Bai Yun has found a Fountain of Youth in Yunior and deserves Mom of the year nomination and should have been included in most notable San Diego as well as the winner of the poll Yun Zi…..
I am still hoping for Lynn to be released from the Hospital to either our Apartment or at least brought closer to home a I miss the best part of my life and again Thank You all for your kind comments and get well wishes as I read them to her via telephone calls daily and it has boosted her spirits with the hope that we will be able to attend the upcoming GPF’s planned group invasion of the SDZ in March to see our other family the Gao Gao / Bai Yun Clan hopefully before our sweetheart Lin lin leaves us to join her step sister Hua Mei in bring more black and white joy to the world as well as seeing Bai Yun , Yun Zi,Zhen Zhen and hopefully Gao Gao as well as our extended family of Global Pandaholics…. Keep watching the Facebook site for more information on this event at the Panda-Fandom page…..
“Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things….”
A lot of you mentioned that you wished you could have seen the sawdust play session between Bai Yun and Yun Zi on Wednesday!
I did not record the whole thing, but instead, because of the contrast and lighting once Bai and Yun Zi go into the box, I did a whole lot of screen images and combined this with the video footage I had to produce this video, “Yun Zi and Bai: Sawdust Play!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWDdbrrGImg
Char #175, you are correct! Just go to YouTube and type in “yun zi panda” and all his videos will be listed. You can sort them by date (under Search Options) to get the most recent videos uploaded. And yes, they will always be there as long as YouTube exists!!
Why is Gao off exhibit? Do they rotate on and off exhibit? Tell him “good job” on his fatherhood! lol Maybe you could and will give him a big “bear hug” for all of us for his birthday.
Moderator’s note: We don’t have enough exhibits for each panda to be viewed, so Gao has been trading places with Su Lin.
bai yun was so cute!!!!! i an a panda lover you should see my room! i am a 10 year old girl
#189 Susan and Doxie Mom:
Thanks for the help and info on youtube and saving videos to my favorites. My husband was laughing at me today and said there is a 12 step program for panda-holics! Told him I never wanted to be cured of this delight! Take good care. Hugs.
Why is the camera showing the birthing den???
Happy Boo-Day to you, Happy Boo-Day to you, Happy Boo-Day dear daddy Gao Gao! After reading about the need to use AI in Memphis and Washington, then the coupling of Gao and Bai is all the more amazing even though they are doing what comes naturally.
My birthday prayer for Gao is a long contented Boo-filled life and maybe one more Panda cubby in 2011.
And yes, although Yun Zi has the Most Buzz Worthy title, kudos must go to the Mommie of the Year, if not Decade. I love the way she interacts with Yun Yun daily; sometimes playful, sometimes teaching, sometimes admonishing….always patient and loving.
Is it Gao Gao’s Birthday! Happy Birthday Gao Gao and many more!!!
Moderator’s note: It’s not really his birthday–we don’t have a birth date for him, but last year we celebrated the anniversary of his arrival to the Zoo with an unbirthday party
When you give GaoGao his special treats for his special day, can you point the cam towards him so that we can see him enjoy his snack?
“I’m so cute! I’m so cute!” I’m sure our cutie already knows how to say that. I finally had a chance to watch the Lin Ping fall (yikes — that little girl is tough!), the sawdust fun (OMG, made me smile OUT LOUD), and the Mr. Man climbing to new heights (made me hold my breath). Thank you for the videos!!!!
I’ve still been really busy working, but everytime I peeked at Mr. Man, he was sleeping today. Can I call you, and you can go tickle him or something?
I really miss being able to carefully read all the posts, and to watch our babies, big and small. I’ve only had a couple of minutes here and there. and I really miss everyone and every animal.
The FB page for the convention is GREAT; a LOT of work has gone into it, and I, for one, truly, truly appreciate all the hard work involved. There are those who are working really hard to make this happen. I am grateful. I’m only sorry I’ve been useless in helping. AND I’M SO EXCITED!
Love the saw dust video…..and when she still wants to play so she drags him back by his butt.
I can’t believe that age 18 yrs. she is still so playful and wants to entertain her boy by standing on her head. Perhaps she feels its time for him to do that too….I do know from the past that the cubs like to somersault……once they learn or see the mom doing it.
He tends to copy everything she does.
he is the cutest baby panda, i am sure he loves to be outside !!!:):)
BTW, can’t stand to see the crate on pandasliveon which will transport my first baby “home” to China. And I am one who fully understands the need for Tai to leave but it still absolutely hurts my heart to the core. If it wasn’t for Tai, I’d never be attending a panda convention. Thank you, Tai, you’re my first love. You will always have my love, and look forward to many great things from you.
An anniversary of Gao’s arrival at the SDZ sounds like a good reason to have a day to honor Gao Gao. I hope Mr. Gao Gao will get some extra goodies on his anniversary. He is so adorable like his cubs.
Dennis and Lynn, I mainly just watch the panda cam, so I really don’t know that much about you. It was in my heart to pray for Lynn. I wish you both all the best. I pray you have healing and wholeness.
I haven’t been blogging for a while but I didn’t want to miss sending my love and best wishes to my sweet Gao Gao on his special day. Too bad we can’t celebrate this day with him. I know the wonderful panda keepers will give him some extra special treats.
Enjoy your day Gao Gao. We are all very lucky to have you at our wonderful San Diego Zoo. I hope to see you soon.
The Panda Convention is ON!!!! If you have not joined Panda-fandom worldwide on Facebook, please do and go to the discussion area. If you do not want to be a part of Facebook, that is okay too. We will update you on the latest SDZ blog. Right now over 52 members are part of the Facebook page. The convention will be March 20, 21. Details to follow…… Tee shirts are being made, special tours and talks with the zoo staff, hotel rooms being blocked, tours of the Wild Animal Park the Sunday, dinner for a Black and White affair, etc. are being set up. Please let us know approximately how many of you will be attending…… Liana and I are heading up the convention. Thanks…..
Best wishes to Gao Gao. I wish I could get a glimpse of him since I am new to this Panda addiction. Big hugs to him because he is the other reason why the other pandas are here. Especially my fav Yunior ( can’t help it ).
Many Blessings!
Oh – what a joy to wake up and find mommie and Yunior snuggling together in the den, looking all cosy. The little one has grown so much! Big kisses and wishing you both pleasant panda dreams
I noticed a couple of questions on here about the panda pair den use. It’s 1.30am panda cam time, Bai and Zi and both fast asleep in the den. So it looks like it’s not time for it to be closed off yet.
Please thank the cam operator for leaving the cam on the den last night! It’s 2:54 Panda Time and 5:54 EST time and Bai and Yun Zi are both curled up nose to nose in the den this morning!!! I had a feeling they were still using the den at night
Happy Bearday Gao Gao, hope your day is filled with lots of special treats and of course your precious ‘boo’!!
Ahhh, Bai Yun and Yun Zi are snoozin’ in the den (1/15/2010, 2:42am Pacific). It’s so sweet to see them there again, all curled up against each other. Not to mention that there is light in the den for us cam viewers, and we can see mom and cub in the middle of the night!
I have a question for the Keeper Sweeties: Is there a map of the floor plan of the panda quarters, on the zoo web site? I get confused, trying to picture where the tunnels are in relation to Bai Yun’s bedroom and garden room, and so on.
Thanks, you Zooies are the best!
Moderator’s note: See comment #89.
It still makes my heart melt, to see Yun Zi, our chubby cubbie, laying in his den with his mother’s arm around him. I know that he is the only cub of Bai Yun’s, that has used the den past this more advanced age. He really loves his and momma’s bedroom and seems so comfortable in there. Bai Yun does too.
It’s 7:26 EST and Momma just climbed into the den and took the baby boy in her arms, to take a little snooze. It’s so precious to see how they cuddle up together, in the place where he was born 6 months ago.
Thank you, SDZ for not shutting the door to the den, just yet. Yun Zi seems to find alot of peace and comfort in his den. Could this really be the last cub for the Great Bai Yun? I think she loves being a mother and would love to see just one more cub in the next two years. She’s strong…she can do it.
Bai Yun and Yun Zi sleeping in the den, so sweet, curled up identically like little loaves of bread (seen from the top). One big, one little, who must have learned from Mommy what to do. Hope Gao Gao is okay and enjoying his “vacation.” I’m sure he will get fussed over. He is, after all, the king.
Thanks photographers and moderators and bloggers.
Dear Gao Gao, special wishes, hugs and kisses to you on your special day. I hope that you get tons of boo today, and maybe a cake!
I just now saw Bai and Yun sleeping in the den all snuggled up. That was so cute. With Yun Zi getting so big, the den is a tight squeeze.
Happy Birthday Gao Gao… Enjoy your day…from your Panda friend in Columbus, Ohio
Awwww – I was hoping to see Yun Zi in the den at least one more time, and there he is. He is getting big, at least in comparison to the size of the den. This really makes one appreciate how wonderful Panda mommies are to be willing to be in such a small space for such a long time for the good of their cubbies. So cute.
OOPs — forgot to wish Mr. Gao Gao Big Daddy Bear a most wonderful and special day. Virtual hugs & boo kisses.
#196 – Char – I totally agree with you that I would never want to be ‘cured’ of being a Pandaholic!
Happy Birthday to Gao Gao! You are such a good daddy to Yun Zi! Love ya dude.
Pat, #197: As if in answer to your question, the first thing I saw this morning was Mama and baby all snuggled up in the birthing den. ***BIG SMILE*** So sweet. I’ll be quite sad the day we’re told we won’t be seeing the den anymore.
#192 We all will send positive thoughts your way until you and Lynn can spend much more time together.
#193-you make so many photos and videos available to us-we could never thank you enough.
#196-I’m with you-no cure for Pandaholism.
#197-The den camera is on so us night owls can enjoy seeing the 2 babies in the den (Bai was somebodie’sbaby).
We get to miss a lot of daytime stuff when we sleep.
#198-Love the Happy Boo Day-I sang along with you.
There are some lovely photos all over-I think that somebody who is good with photo shop should make a family portrait up with Goa, Bai, and all 5 cubs. We don’t have to tell Goa about Bai’s first cub, do we?
I have a couple of questions-did all of Bia’s cubs resist their baths like I have seen Yunior do? (one night many weeks ago) I tuned into the “panda channel” to watch them and had a hard time telling if it was Saturday Night Bath or Saturday Night Wrestling.
After the floor of the den was completely cleared, Bai resupplied soft bamboo. She came in to the den, rolled onto the floor, and used her paws to “fluff” the loose bamboo onto her body. She then got into a partial sitting pose, grabbed the bamboo on herself and rubbed it on her chest and tummy the way we use soap and cloth in the shower. Then she got a bunch in each front paw and rubbed it in her armpits-is this action seen from time to time with all grown pandas?
love 3 m grammmie
P. S. The blog writers and moderator(s) must be on their last eye with all of the commets we send, and they have to either answer, or find out the answers to our queries-you guys are really good sports.
I hope DoxieMom got to see the tug of war Yun ZI was having with a piece of bamboo at 6:30 AM in the doorway of the den. It was priceless. The big part is out in the bedroom and he keeps trying to drag the thin branch into the den. He sure enjoys playing with bamboo inside or in the exhibit. He is so fun to watch at this stage where he is investigating everything around him.
Keepers must be putting out morning bamboo supply because Bai Yun is pacing back and forth from bedroom into den and back. Yun Zi was in the den at first and I thought she might be trying to get him to follow her to the Sun Room. But, he came out of the den and started playing with the piece of boo in the bedroom and she kept up her pacing. He seems oblivious to what she is doing. He started to react but once he got engaged in playing with the bamboo, he is ignoring her.
When Yun Zi left the den this morning, the keepers shut the door to the den. So Mom is walking around waiting to be fed and Yun Zi is wondering about this shut door. What have they done to his precious den?
Wow… don’t get in Bai’s way when she’s waiting for breakfast. She’s knocked the little fella out of her way 3 times now… I think he wanted to go back to the den where it’s safe but the keepers must have closed the door. Earlier this morning he was sleeping in the den and then played with some bamboo for a while… he’s a cutie…
It is a good thing I got back to the cam when I did or I would have missed seeing Yunior try to look into the water dispenser, and to climb up on it until he was sitting in the bowl part. As Bai paced-presumidly awaiting her morning bamboo-he got his paws up on the rim and tried to figure out how to get down. The way he finally used was head first-fall down go boom. Even 7 a. m. is a good time to watch what they are up to. Love 3 m grammmie
When I went back to the cam shot it looked like a keeper was in the room with Yunior, feeding him something. I snapped a picture, of course, but somehow it got lost in my computer. Even though I knew the exact title to look for the search said there was nothing to show. Windows 7 is supposed to be good at searches even if all you have is one words from the title, I pasted the exact title onto the search area. Perhaps you can find out what the keeper was doing with him, and feeding him? Thank you love 3 M Grammmie
A hearty Happy Annibearsary to dear Gao Gao! He arrived at SDZ seven years ago today and stole our hearts! I hope he has a wonderful, treat-filled day and enjoys lots of great “conversations” with his keepers since he loves to interact with his favorite humans. Hope he knows how much he is loved and admired. I miss seeing him so much!
Happy Bearday to our stud muffin Gao Gao, hope you enjoy extra treats. You have given us some wonderful little babies.
What a lovely surprise to wake up to Bai and Yun Zi in the morning!! For those of you that missed all the events from this morning… from them snuggling together, to Yun Zi playing with bamboo in the den, to Yun Zi playing on top of the drinker while mommie Bai Yun paces!! Then Yun Zi gets ups on the platform scale, and once Bai leaves a lucky Keeper enters the picture! Watch her interact with this precocious cubbie!!
All of this is in the video “Yun Zi’s Early Morning Routine?”, and the YouTube link is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZnsE7RlrmE
Happy unbirthday, sweet, dearest Gao Gao!!! Watched the SDZ Giant Panda mating video again yesterday just to see you strut your stuff, be the stud muffin that we all know and love… thank you for your contribution!! Yun Zi is such a love!!!
Happy Birthday Dear Gao Gao!!! Wish I could tickle your toes with soft bamboo!
Thankyou for the “den” cam last night! So sweet to see them still cuddling in the coziness where it all started.
My bad…………….so sorry……….I did not realize that mama and baby were still using the den and did not get an answer to my question. I just assumed it was closed now. I wish I could have seen them in there also cuddling and sleeping. I miss those times. Glad all of those out there did get to see them. Great memories and good times of the dening phase.
Happy 7th Anniversary Gao Gao………….we hope to see you all come March/April………………
#222 Norma – I have seen this many times – Bai rubbing the bamboo all over herself. I believe it’s called “anointing”. Lun Lun in Atlanta does it a lot. It usually happens when the bear detects a scent that they like on the material and they start rubbing themselves with it. Su Lin has done it with a scented sack. The zoos use the scents as enrichment. However, it’s not just scents that get the bears going – I think sometimes it’s texture – like when we saw Bai and Yunzie rolling around in the sawdust. I’ve also seen Lun Lun roll around on top of her bamboo before she eats it. To top this off, one of the blogs at NZ talks about Tai Shan getting hold of a small bird in his paw and proceeding to “anoint” himself with it!! Poor bird! Too funny, eh?
Gao Gao is adorable. I have yet to see him except in pictures and a couple of mating videos. Since I’ve been watching the cam, he hasn’t been on it. It will be sad to lose Su Lin, but at least there is comfort in the fact that we will be able to see her daddy on the cam. Personally he is the cutest of all the bears there, except for Yunior, who doesn’t count be cause no one can beat a cubbie’s cuteness factor. lol
I have been watching numerous Mei Lan/Lun Lun videos and the “OMG cuteness” factor is over 100%.
I LOVE this video. I hope to one day be able to travel to China to experience this firsthand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEk9Nyv9HLc
Happy Birthday, Gao Gao. You are a blessing.
Norma #228: DoxieMom caught it on video, and it’s posted at the Panda-fandom Worldwide Facebook page. It’s most likely on Youtube as well.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=272470520621
Loved Doxie Mom’s video of Little Yun with a keeper.
Thought it might be Kathy Hawk, not sure, her beautiful blonde hair was hidden in cap.
Wearing the white cap great idea..resembles Panda’s white head..
Definitely not as large as Mama’s furry one.
Little One seemed to go for the treats.
You are such a lucky keeper getting so close to Cuddles!…..only in my dreams!!
He was an armful when you carried him out to wherever……Yun Zi is really growing by leaps and bounds.
Thank you one and all for answering my silly questions and giving me links to the early morning Yunior routine. It was lovely to see Bai and Yunior together in the den last night even if they mostly slept-they do not stay in one postion for long. Have a great wekend…love Grammmie
Panda Team: I watched the video of Yunior’s early morning routine. I’m curous about the training methods. I’m assuming that you were wanting Yunior to come to you? I noticed that you fed him treats and then backed off, avoided direct eye contact, and seem to wait for him to approach you? Or is your method just to get him acustomed to having your presence in his space so you can approach him to pick him up? Im just curious on the training methods and how they might differ to between domestic animals and “wild” animals…
Holly!
thank you for posting the wonderful information about Lun Zi! He is so cute and reminds me of Su Lin his sister and Tai Shan his cousin.
Having him come out and seeing his vids this wk is awesome . We also have photos in PU on flickr,
Having this bouncy bundle of joy is helping to take a little of the sting of cousin Tai Shan moving to China. Tai Shan was/is my first introduction to Giant Pandas, and of course my first love.
I look forward to watching him grow and develope personality wise!! He has quite the scamp twinkling in those eyes of his!
Thank you for the timely info and updates , it means a lot!
God bless,
#231 – Hi DoxieMom, Thanks for sharing the video of Yun Zi’s early morning routine. Yun Zi is amazing. His mother bulldozers over him and he takes it all in stride. Nothing fazes him – he just keeps on with his morning routine of playing and investigating.
Yesterday, I also watched a Gao Gao video. It was of Gao Gao’s first birthday party at the Zoo. The YouTube link is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61pQosJgZHc
Happy Birthday/Arrival Day to our Stud Muffin Gao Gao.
Why do some of you say Su Lin and Tai Shan are cousins? Just because they’re Pandas or is there something I don’t know? I’ve only been following the Pandas since July so there’s a lot I still need to know and learn!
#244 Marie : If you look at the Family Tree at the National Zoo Tian Tian’s Father is Pan Pan who is also the Father of Bai Yun,so yes Tai Shan is cousin to all of the SDZ Pandas that have been born…Pan Pan is the Father of 85% of all Pandas in captivity in various Zoos….If you go to the Panda-Fandom Worlwide page on Facebook there are a lot of postings on the various family trees of the USA Pandas….. NZ Family Tree ;
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/MeetPandas/default.cfm
SDZ Family Tree : http://www.pandasliveon.com/giantpandas/san-diego-panda-family-co.html
Welcome to the World of Pandaholicism an incurable disease brought about by our black and white Furry Friends…LOL….
“Panda peace on earth , Goodwill to All Living Thaings…..”
# 244 Marie – The father of Tian Tian (Tai Shan’s father) is Pan Pan. Pan Pan is also Bai Yun’s father. But Tian Tian and Bai Yun have different mothers; they are half brother and sister. So, yes the five cubs born at the SDZ are Tai Shan’s cousins.
Hey everyone…don’t forget to reply with your interest in the Panda Convention. You can join us for part or all of the fun events in March. We hope to get a more private viewing of the Pandas and interact as Pandalcholics! Check out the
Facebook page, or please express your interest here on this blog. I assume we can not exchange email addresses here, but we can give more details and talk by phone or email with the Facebook connection. Thanks to everyone…It is
going to be a fabulous event!!!
#244, Marie, Bai Yun (Su Lin’s mother) and Tian Tian (Tai Shan’s father) are both the offspring of Pan Pan in China. Since they are brother (Tian) and sister (Bai) their offspring, Su Lin and Tai Shan, are cousins.
Marie #244- as I understand it- Bai Yun and Tian Tian (Tai’s daddy) are brother/sister. Moderator- this is off subject, but, have we ever heard if Mei Sheng was the cub that was born’s daddy? Thanks
Moderator’s note: We haven’t heard.
On the panda cam what was the chain length cage?
You got that right, Mr. Gao Gao is a stud muffin like Mei Sheng and Yun Zi will be when he grows up. Thanks for the link. I enjoy watching Gao Gao so much, he is a handsome panda. I like his coach potato attitude while he waits for Bai Yun. By the Grace of God, cub number six, a girl, I think.
Thanks everyone who replied and thanks Dennis for those links. That made for some fascinating reading. I’ve always liked Pandas, but just this past summer have I become a Pandaholic. I think it was Yun Zi’s birth that did it. I am still learning, but this website, the blog and everyone who’s answered my questions has helped me gain a lot of panda knowledge. I so wish I could attend the convention in March. I have plans to go to the SDZ this year, but it won’t be in March as I won’t have all the funds I need yet. Thanks again.
Marie in Montreal, Canada
#250 Kay from Iowa – To get you answer regarding the chain cage (transfer tunnel) that you saw, see the previous blog #85 by DoxieMom and watch the video “2010-01-17 Yun Zi Gets Around” This video includes footage of the transfer tunnel.
Holly, if you ever go on vacation, PUH-LEASE email me!! I will fly there from LIL (Land of Lincoln, Illinois) and take care of Yun Zi aka THE CUTEST PANDA EVER!! I can cook him food, play with him, read to him before bed, brush him, etc. And I’m being 100,000,000,000% honest!
It would be no trouble AT ALL!! Well, it maaaaybye might be a smiiiiiity light bit hard to convince my mom but she loves Yun Zi too so, she’ll understand!! 
Please tell all the pandas, especially Yun Zi I said hi!
Love and hugs,
Brooklynn, age 11
P.S.PLEEEEEEEAAAAASSSEE dont send Yun Zi to China!!! PLEASE!! HES TOO CUTE!!!!!
Good morning Panda Family (that includes you moderator Debbie),
Well, I’m slowly catching up on my reading so this posting is in response to the blog about Yun Zi meeting his fans.
Dear Moderator,
Please tell the Horticulture staff that I agree 100% with Lee in Vancouver about the wonderful job they did in the various exhibits. Somehow it helped to make me feel like I was more a part of it. Even if my butt was in NJ, my heart was in San Diego.
Tina in SC 102
I couldn’t agree with you more about our beautiful Bai Yun’s face and what her eyes seem to say. I would give anything to have the chance to hug her. I’ve said it before, I wouldn’t even be afraid of her hurting me. She obviously knows how to be gentle and I feel quite confident she would read what is in my eyes when I look at her, she would feel my love.
Dear Moderator,
Thank you for telling us your name. Do you prefer we still address you as Moderator or may we show you the respect of calling you Debbie? Also, I know others have asked, but I never seem to catch Gao Gao on the live cam, is my timing just off?
Dear Becky of SD 105,
Just wanted to tell you that I think you and your husband are beautiful people for offering accommodations to anyone who was making the trip. It would take a miracle for me to be able to come or I would take you up on your offer since my finances are so tight and it would be pleasant to stay with “panda family”. God Bless You Both
Does anyone else get a kick out of how the first thing our baby panda does with something new is put it in his mouth, much like a hooman baby??
Tiny 176
Phyllis
You have such a beautiful heart and way of expressing things. I am proud to be part of our own little “den” even though it continues to grow bigger and bigger. That’s o.k., it is what we are praying the real panda families do. God Bless You and our pandas.
Moderator’s note: Using “moderator” is best, as I do have a back-up, or deputy, moderator who helps me when needed. As far as seeing Gao, it’s just a matter of timing and what the Cam operator thinks is the most interesting at that moment.
Dear Moderator,
I notice that you stated that Gao Gao is not on exhibit at the moment. Maybe I am missing it, since I am behind on my blogs; but it seems like Gao is not on exhibit a great deal. Is everything allright with our King Panda? I mean if Bai Yun is Queen (and she definitely is); doesn’t that mean Gao is King? I’ve never had the pleasure of watching him, but he seems so sweet and quite the Panda Hero from what I’ve read. Plus there is obviously no doubt about his manhood. I love him so I have sent him a toy. Is our special guy o.k.? I’ve been wondering, but I’ve been afraid to ask. Thanks for answering me.
Moderator’s note: Gao is just fine
Susan in San Diego 73
I’m certainly no authority, but the first thing that came to my mind when you said one elephant was lying down and another was leaning into it, was the fact that other females will help a female who is in labor. I’ve read they often gather around the one in labor and stroke her with their trunks to try to soothe her. Is there any chance that the elephant lying down was a female who might be pregnant and in labor? Otherwise, I have no idea.
Moderator’s note: No, we don’t have any pregnant elephants at the Zoo.
Linda 77
I would like to apply for the job. I promise to have the willpower if that’s what is necessary to get the job. I will be satisfied just to touch him, I read real well, and my daughter always liked my singing. Do I get the job?
(Oh…if it were only that easy, huh?)
Dear Moderator,
I’m curious. I’ve noticed that Yun Zi often joins Mommy Bai when she is eating her boo. He mouths away on the leaves and small wisps of stalks. Does he just think he is doing what Bai is doing because he is “a big boy” or is he actually eating any of it? Thanks for the answer, as usual. You really are appreciated more than you know.
Moderator’s note: He gnaws and teethes on it because he see Mom do it, but he is not old enough to ingest it. Give him a few more months!
Dear Moderator,
Thank you for ALWAYS thinking of our pandas and other animals first. As much as I get confused too, I am happy that you do NOT publish layouts of the animals private areas. Grateful affection to all the hoomans at the zoo, along with all the hugs and kisses I’m sending to our pandas. PLEASE anyone who gets the opportunity (Holly?), please give a special hug and soft kiss to my adopted Yun Zi. And tell him I love him when you do it please. Thanks-Phyllis
DoxiMom,
Thanks for the wonderful videos. Without you, we would all be missing a great deal.
Brandy in NY,
When you and Frances are done showing Bai Yun and Yun Zi New York; please don’t forget to send them to me in northwestern NJ, so I can show them the country. They’ll see cows, horses, black bears (from a distance, I’ll make sure) and all kinds of smaller wildlife. Plus, beautiful woods, and ski mountains to play on.
Dear Moderator,
A rather sensitive question that I wonder about every time I see Yun Zi nurse. Bai Yun’s nipples seem so tender and raw. Being the wonderful mommy she is, it does not seem to interfere with her nursing her little guy; but I am concerned about Bai and little Yun’s teeth. Is anything done behind the scenes to help soothe her sore areas at all? Would she even let you? I’m sorry for asking such a sensitive question, but I love Bai, and they really look like they hurt. She still has a long way to go, so I’m just hoping something can be done to help her, or maybe they look worse on camera than in person (I doubt it, but I can hope)? Sorry to put you on the spot, but I truly appreciate you’re answering me.
Moderator’s note: I don’t think Bai is in any pain, but I’ll forward your question to our Panda Team.
Hello dear moderator,
Two comments and one quickie question. I finally got to watch Yun Zi and Bai Yun play in the sawdust in the box. Oh my goodness, have you ever seen anything more fun for them??? They were having a ball!!! My question is–don’t we have to worry about it getting in their eyes at all?? I’m thinking not, or you wouldn’t let them play in it, but I don’t understand how their eyes are protected.
Also, three cheers and God Bless our amazing Bai Yun. Our brave little prince certainly had us all holding our breathe and praying that he was going to make it down safely from his very high climb. I was amazed how Bai Yun taught him how to do it himself rather than risk grabbing him, which would have taught him nothing. I am sure her heart was in her throat and she must have been talking to her version of God as well. She really should get a “Mother of the Year” award. She is the whole package. I love her as much as our little man. I would give ANYTHING to hold him for a minute and to hug her. Really, I know she won’t hurt me; she will know I love her, there is no doubt in my mind. I know the zoo couldn’t let me, but if you could, I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute. Please, someone just tell Bai Yun and Yun Zi that Phyllis in NJ loves them so much it can’t be put into words. Moderator-would you have a minute during your hectic day? It would mean a great deal to me if you would, if not I understand. Thanks and have a beary special day!
Phyllis
Moderator’s note: Pandas have eyelids that protect their eyes from all kinds of things, even sawdust. Please don’t worry about them and just enjoy the romp-and-roll sessions