Many of you have sent in questions about our pandas and their care. Here are some answers from the Panda Team!
Pandas and bamboo consumption
Pandas are carnivores and have the teeth one expects a carnivore to have. It’s true that old pandas can show tooth wear; we crack open the thickest bamboo pieces to help protect our pandas’ teeth from wear. Their digestive system produces large amounts of mucous, to help the passage of their fibrous diet.
It is normal for panda cubs to investigate plant matter with their mouth and adults are basically vegetarians, despite being classified as carnivores. Please don’t be worried about the potential for injuries from the bamboo. It’s not an issue. Look at it this way: a species that is often harmed by its food source doesn’t last long, and pandas have been around a long time.
Panda hearing study
Panda Team researchers are testing to learn the actual extent of the panda’s hearing: how quiet, how low, and how high? So far we are learning quite a bit from our study with Su Lin. She has been doing a fantastic job and we’ve learned that she can hear sounds that we can’t. We can use this information in the same manner that information is being used for the polar bear hearing study: what sounds are affecting them and could possibly drive them away or bother them? We aren’t using any music for this; instead, our research team uses a set of tones that they have already picked out for them. The team used this same program for our polar bears. The keeper inside the soundproof room with the researcher has control of when a tone is played so we know Su Lin is responding to an actual part of the study and not just trying to get a reward.
Panda weights
Bai Yun, our largest panda and mother of our newest cub, currently weighs 228 pounds (104 kilograms). Gao Gao, who has always been on the small side for adult males, weighs 163 pounds (74 kilograms). He is enjoying life and taking it easy. Our keepers are working with him so that he may also be tested for our hearing study.
Su Lin, now 4½ years old and 182 pounds (82.5 kilograms), has lost a little weight as a young female approaching the estrous season, but this is a normal consequence of increased activity combined with a slight decrease in appetite. Zhen Zhen, an active 2½-year-old, weighs 134 pounds (60.8 kilograms) right now. And Yun Zi, at 6 months old, weighs 25.8 pounds (11.7 kilograms). The Zoo’s nutritionists track animals’ weights and are satisfied with everyone’s progress.
Panda exams
Breeding adults at the San Diego Zoo receive an exam prior to breeding season. Young pandas have an exam every week until they become too squirmy to handle, as recently happened with Yun Zi. Su Lin and Zhen Zhen are young, healthy animals, so it’s likely they won’t have exams until their preshipment exams, prior to their journey to China one day. Again, we do not have a date set for Su Lin’s departure at this time.
Caring for a growing cub
There will come a time when Yun Zi and Bai Yun can remain on exhibit with bedroom access overnight, thereby eliminating the need to shift them off exhibit late in the day. Initially, the cub is likely to spend much of his time in a tree while Bai Yun is shifted for cleaning. Eventually, he’ll become more interested in the shifting process, but every cub is different as to when they comply. That’s part of what makes panda watching so much fun for all of us!
Note: New photos have been added to the Panda Photo Gallery.
Do you teach the pandas English commands? If so, what happens when they move to China? Do they have to learn new, Chinese commands, or do the China panda people learn the English words for the pandas?
Moderator’s note: Our keepers use English when speaking with the pandas. Pandas that move to China quickly adapt to new cues, both verbal and physical, especially if there are treats involved!
Any chanced you will have Su Lin artificially inseminated so she can give birth?
Thank you for all of the answers! One other question about the hearing study: You mentioned Su Lin can hear sounds we can’t. Do Pandas make sounds we can’t hear? Will you be able to tell if Pandas can communicate this way? I know in Africa researchers found out elephants can communicate on a frequency we can’t hear. How amazing if this was true for Pandas as well! Any idea if this is being tested?
Thank you Panda Team for all of this information. Without you us panda fans would never know this.
Also, I wanted to say I am the proud Grandma of twins born on Friday morning. The boy weighed 5 lbs 15 oz and was 20 in long and the girl weighed 5 1/2 lbs and was 18 in long. Their names are Dominick and Isabella. They also have a big brother at hom who is 1 year and 3 months old. So there will be a lot work for mom.
Have a great day.
Moderator’s note: Congratulations, Grandma!
Great post,
Question: How much will Yun Zi weigh by the end of the year?
Where will Yun Zi and Bai Yun be at the Zoo on March 8th. I’m coming down to see them from Sacramento.
Thank you for all you do to help us learn about our Pandas. These guys brighten my day!!!!!!!!!!
Moderator’s note: They should be in the main viewing area.
When will Yun Zi be out on exhibit all day or for longer time? I want to visit her from Seattle but am waiting for when she is out longer and awake longer. Thanks!
Moderator’s note: Most likely in a week or two.
When Bai Yun is no longer able to conceive, will she remain here in the U.S. or will she return to China? Will an unrelated (to Gao Gao) female from China be sent to the U.S. as a potential mate to Gao? How many breeding males does China have?
Will the San Diego Zoo ever consider maintaining two breeding females to be mated to Gao? Hopefully resulting in two cubs in one year?
Moderator’s note: I can answer your first question: In December 2008, our loan agreement with China was extended to allow Bai Yun and Gao Gao to stay here for five more years.
i knew BAI YUN was BAI LINGUAL!
Many Thanks as usual for whetting the appetite for Panda Knowledge by us confirmed Pandaholics. Every day seems to bring forth some new information in the care and behaviour of the most watched Bears and we hope that the information being learned will keep this endangered species with us ….. Every time I see Yunior playing in the vegetation in the exhibit area I remember the line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail …”Bring me some shrubbery” LOL……;-)
Xi Lan in ZA has started his weaning process today and was given a LARGE ball to play with today that is about 5 times bigger than he is….He also is a rarity in ZA Pandas as he actually likes the snow and rain and isn’t a sunny day Panda like his Parents Lun Lun and Yang Yang….LOL….For those of you that have been wondering which NZ Panda is being shown on the one working Panda Cam there, the site has a Meet the Pandas section that might help I’m hoping that the other Panda Cam will be repaired as the NZ reopened after their closing from all the snow that they had…..We only hope to soon see another Cub to replace Tai Shan as we wait to hear if the AI worked for Mei Xiang…..MZ is still working to get their Panda Cam back on line as we await the news that hopefully Ya Ya’s AI also brings us another Cub as well…….
“Panda Peace on Earth , Good Will to All Living Things …..”
I am so happy that Gao Gao and especially beautiful Bai Yun will stay! Thank you for that. They are special to us here. Especially when we know that their babies may go elsewhere. Thank you China, too!
Sometimes Bai Yun seems like she is pacing. Do you think sometimes the bears become a little frustrated because their enclosure is not like being in the open?
Moderator’s note: She might appear to be pacing when she believes it is time for lunch.
I think that in reading the blog, then going to the comments is great—–but I also seee that it generates as many questions as it answers. That is really great. It shows that we are not just pandoholics, but a caring group of people who cannot get enough of our pandas……Love Grammmie
I noticed that yesterday, after Bai Yun tried so hard, even trying to take Yun Zi out of the tree, she seemed to be chastizing him. On the pool, “stay right there and don’t move”, in the garden, stay right there and don’t move, as one does to one’s naughty children, or if one is concerned about behaviour. Am I anthropomorphizing that? yet she seems to chastize him at times, and then I look and see Yun Zi is so unhappy, then she plays with him, as if to say OK all is forgiven. I pay close attention when she paces. That is the time she is concerned? What is she trying to teach him? Or is it nursing time? Or bed time? Or is she waiting for food? Pacing seems to be a time for attention.
I forgot to ask earlier but has there ever been a Panda that has had twins? I hope that this was not a silly question?
Moderator’s note: See post To Twin or not to Twin.
Thanks for the great info, as usual. This is a silly question but maybe you can answer it in a future posting: what is it with Yunior and sawdust? He looks so funny rolling around in it. I’ve never seen another bear enjoy it so much but don’t know if NZ or AZ ever made it available.
Congratulations to Karen in Phoenix. Guess you’ll be a busy grandma!
Karen, #4, congratulations Grandma!! How exciting to have twins, plus a one year old grandchildren to love and watch grow.
Thanks Panda Team for a most enlightening blog. The ability to hear sounds we can’t may explain part of why Mei Lan is still agitated by unfamiliar noises. She is use to noised humans could and could not hear, and the presence, or absence, of those familiar sounds may be disconcerting to her. Hopefully since she is starting to eat more her stomach rumbling won’t be one of those sounds, and she will start to quickly adjust to the changes in sounds. It makes sense that the pandas adjust rather quickly to language changes. Fu Long would not have know Chinese either and he seems to have adjusted just fine. Since dogs and cats don’t understand language, but rather tones, and the sound of words, it doesn’t matter what language as long as the commands are consistent with the physical signals the animals learn. This would likely apply to Pandas, Polar bears and any other animal that is trained to respond to voice commands.
#4 Karen – Congratulations! I am the proud grandma of twin boys who will be a year old on Thursday.
Twins are a lot of fun!
Karen, #15 – Hua Mei, the first female panda born to Bai Yun and Shi Shi has had three sets of twins, one right after another. About a month before Yun Zi was born, Hua Mei had a single cub. The daughter has actually had more cubs than her mother! All of Hua Mei’s cubs were born in China.
It’s really interesting to see the weights of the pandas and I can put them in context by knowing what I weigh. I was Bai and am now Su heading towards Gao with a Yunior to loose
Thank you for all the information on all the blogs. It is fun learning about pandas. Yun Zi looks so big now. Wow!
Check out the new male elephant calf born on Valentine’s Day. Musi has a baby brother. It will be interesting to see the dynamics between them.
Wow! I never knew so much about pandas! Illinois hasn’t seen a panda since the ’30s. Those were the days. Not that I can remember them, I was way off from existing. My father remembers going to see the first Su-Lin.
More interesting news about Panda’s. It seems that yun zi has a mind of his own. Except when he wants
to eat. That seems to be up to mom. She still rules the roust. I love watching them interact.
Thank you again for all the info and how everyone is doing.
lu
Hi Moderator,
I’m still catching up on my blog reading but a few back someone mentioned that Bai seemed to have a stomache bug, “messing up” her platform and hanging her head. I know she likes to hang her head but are they right? Is our beautiful Bai not feeling well? As usual, thanks for answering.
Moderator’s note: She’s fine. This behavior was addressed in the post Ten Panda Questions.
Thank you for answering these question. I never watched the pandas before Yunior but now love reading the blogs for all this info. I even find myself spending hours watching the other sites just to get more info. This has been a great enrichment for me as well. lol. Now that I am an adoptive mom for our special pandas, I love learning more about them and knowing they are doing well. All the blogs are well written and I get so excited when a new one is posted. I guess you are never too old to learn new things.
The information is fascinating, especially the hearing study. The narrators said the pandas tend to turn their backs or move away from the visitors when there too much noise. Thus even when visitors think they are whispering or talking softly, the pandas may react.
For those who have never visited NZ: there are 3 outside yards and 4 inside enclosures. Mei usually has access to the two middle inside enclosures. Outside she is usually in the middle yard, but sometimes since Tai’s departure the gate has been open between two. Thus we usually see Mei on cams 26 and below, and Tian on 28 and above. I hope that helps. Of course, it is suject to change by NZ.
I’ve been missing so much for the last couple of weeks. Haven’t had time to read posts, watch the pandas, etc. BUT I was blessed tonight to see Yun Zi for a couple of minutes. How he made my heart SING. He did wonderful things for my heart and mind. I’m hopeful that my life will slow down a little in a few weeks, and I can enjoy the world of the panda more fully. But then in a little over a month, I’LL HAVE MY WISH GRANTED!!! I’ll get to SDZ for the first time. I am very excited.
In celebration of Chinese New Year, congratulations to China on winning the gold and silver in couples figure skating. After the Yun Zi Show, the Olympics is great fun to watch.
Well I have a good idea how Prince Fluffy-Butt stays so white. I have rewatched some videos….it has to be all the washing. When I first saw the drinkers I thought they kind of looked like Highway Reststop Equipment, but I later saw they were a watering station. Yunior, on the other hand, thought they were handy little washing tubs for his feet, face and bottom. At the rate he is growing it may only be his feet and face soon, that fluffly bottom will be too big to fit in.
A few blogs back somebody asked for some photos of Bia holding Yunior like we hold our babies. I spent several hours working on things to fufill the request, and I also added a few more….but now I do not know whether they ever got sent. The last few days I have been trying to let myself rest when I need to, and have been slept a bit on and a bit off for a few hours for several days, and keep falling asleep when I read too much. I tried going back some looking for the post, cannot find it or my reply with quite a few links for photos, and their “caption line” making it easily found. If you are the one who asked please let me know I did not send them…I have them on a wordpad ready to be copied and pasted to our comments. In order that things do not come through looking like Fluffy-Butt helped me type—he only knows 2 words…..Milk and Mommy, I find it easier to get some things done on wordpad then copy and paste. Before doing anymore searching I thought it might be a good idea to. Love Grammmie ask…..Love (yes I am the 3 M grammie)
Are Bai and Yunior out in the main exhibit now? I thought I just saw both of them in the left enclosure!! Yippeeee!!! Please say it is so!!
Moderator’s note: Today is to be the first day they have access to the enclosure in the main viewing area.
It looks like the big “move” has been made. I am a watching camera 4 and I see two pandas, one big and one little ( Bai Yun and Yun Zi ?). If I am seeing things correctly it looks like the little panda is having a great time and the big panda is happy eating boo.
I forgot to ask in my previous blog, where did the rest of panda move to ?
Moderator’s note: Bai Yun and Yun Zi swapped exhibits with Zhen Zhen.
Wow, the first switch has been made. It looks like Yun Zi and Bai Yun are having a great time sniffing and exploring everywhere. Since Bai has not had immediate access to Su Lin’s scent in a year, it will be interesting to watch her reaction this morning.
Thanks for putting my worries to rest about the pandas strong teeth, and the analogy given that a species harmed by their food source wouldn’t be around long was perfect. DUHHH, i’s so logical. But this is my first baby panda, I was just being a concerned new panda mom.
My only other question is, have any of the babies (or older pandas) suffered an eye injury from being careless w/their boo? Surely someone has stabbed themselves in the eye before. They do tend eat their boo as if someone is going to take it way. I know you’re not starving them. Why do you think they eat as if they are, and always waiting on their next meal? Or, is it just their favorite past time?
Doxie Mom, good luck, and have fun keeping up with today’s action. The camera view is crisp and clear so it will be great fun to watch. Wish I wasn’t so busy all day. Have to catch up with Doxie Mom and time lapse videos.
So Bai and Yun Zi are in front–did they trade with ZZ or did she swap with Su Lin?
Moderator’s note: The swap was with ZZ.
Panda Team: Please tell us how Yun Zi and Bai did with all the new smells in the tunnel… Did it take him a while to get out into the exhibit?
Moderator’s note: A post will be up soon detailing this first morning.
After watching Miss Su Lin’s daily strolls around her exhibit, I have a question. In the wild, what is the lead in time for the female panda to go from the initial hormone shift to the 2-3 days she is able to breed? And does this preliminary hormone shift cause the female panda to venture further afield in bring her into contact with suitable males to breed with?
Since today is first day of the swap is there some particular reason why the camera is not focused on Yunni? Would love a chance to see and experience that. Thanks very much.
Moderator’s note: He followed his mother into the bedroom, out of view of Panda Cam.
Grammmie Norma -
When you go back through the blog entries looking for P Wong’s contributions be sure to look for one with a somewhat similar layout. But it is a great deal longer than P Wong’s usual work. I am forever grateful to
P Wong for having translated and brought to our attention a video of Gao Gao’s early history. When searching for it look for a very long entry that is broken into sections labelled as scenes. I would say it was well more than a year ago but not more than 3 1/2 years ago. Su lin was just shy of 1 when last I saw her and it was after that, but by no means recent. I suggest copying and pasting the entry to a word document and then printing it for easy reference as you view the video. I know you are going to absolutely love it. You’ll see just how right you are about Gao Gao being a very wise bear!
Liz S. (a.k.a. Grammy)
Moderator’s note: The translation is #82 of the post Celebrating Gao Gao.
thanks for all this wonderful information and the new adorable photos of Bai and Yunior. So cute! Will these be posted in a larger size with the rest of the photos?
Moderator’s note: Yes. I’ll let everyone know when new photos are posted in the Panda Photo Gallery.
I guess that’s Bai Yun that’s hanging way up in a tree on Cam 4 (around 11:40AM SDZ time)? It looks so funny. LOL.
It was a surprise to see Yun Zi and mom in Zhen Zhen’s exhibit this morning. Yun Zi looked like he was having so much fun up in the tree. They left the exhibit. Now, I see a bear high up in the tree. Who is that? It looks too big to be Yun Zi, but I don’t know. Have a good day everyone.
I think that is Yun Zi!!! You are going to need one of those machines, that elevates people high, to get him down in the afternoons, I think.
Has anyone seen the picture of Hua Mei on the “pandas live on” website? Do you think she looks like Bai?
Just popped over to see how Xi Lan was doing now that they have started the weaning process- he is adorable just like his sissy- he is laying back eating boo with mama. Wish they could stay little forever- they are beautiful as adults, but adorable as cubbies…was thrilled to read on the mei lan update today that he is resting and eating boo, the sound of the truck bringing boo in didn’t bother her, and ate 2 apples and half a banana which they said is what she ate at atlanta. Poor baby, she’s confused. Also read that my baby boy tai dont like their panda bread…..nooooooo…he wants his fruity!!!
Wow…As predicted Yun Zi took to the tree tops already on camera 4…. Another Black and White Furry Tree Frog….LOL…..Yunior has joined his older siblings in the art of swaying in the tree tops….. I guess this is another stepping stone in the development and growth of Yunior as he will now look down on all his admiring Fans and Pandarazzi as they stare up in wonder at his royal cuteness …..
At least the Weather people were wrong today as we only had a dusting of snow as I stare out my apartment windows and look out at 8 young Turkey Poults staring at me like Yunior from a tree across from my window….Who says Turkeys can’t fly …..LOL….. Mom and Dad Turkey are scratching thru the snow for food while the young birds stare down….
“Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things…..”
I have a question….Do pandas snore????
Moderator’s note: Sometimes
Carnivore not herbivore?
Moderator’s note: See our panda fact sheet…
# 46 Dianna – I was thinking that Hua Mei looked more like Shi Shi. Something about her face isn’t quite like Momma Bai’s. Then again, I may just need another cup of coffee
They are all just adorable, but Momma Bai does have that playful look in her eyes. I think both Mei Sheng and Tai Shan have that certain “twinkle” about them as well. Maybe Granpaw Pan Pan was a playful rascal!
And there is a wonderful article on “Pandasliveon” that has a very nice pic of Hua Mei, as Dianna noted. There is also a very informative and cute video about training the males, and it is in English! (yay!!). Hee hee thanks Dee
Oh, and for anyone interested in Mei Lan, it seems that she is finally doing well. Whew, thank goodness! She seems to be getting on a normal schedule of sorts. Bless her little heart, there was just so much newness that day. Maybe being close to a male was affecting her as well as having very sensitive hearing. It is such a relief when there is a happy ending to a story.
There is the link on the ZooAtlanta site for Mei Lan’s updates.
#2 Robyn
Su Lin will not be artificially inseminated here at the San Diego Zoo. Plans have already been made for her to go to China some time this year. Right now she has been showing some early signs of a change in her hormones, which could be early estrus. Su Lin will go to China to breed, and I’m sure she will have beautiful cubs!
#3 AGS
We are not trying to test the pandas on their vocalizations; we want to find out what sounds they hear so that we can use that information toward conservation efforts.
#5 Panda Annie
There is no telling how big Yun Zi will get in this coming year. He is growing faster than the other cubs we have had, but there is a chance that he may slow down. We have seen this in other cubs, and really in all baby animals. Remember: we really don’t know if Gao Gao’s smaller size is due to trauma at a young age or genetics, so these are always things we have to keep in mind.
#8 Linda
There is no plan for Bai Yun to return to China at this time. Females can continue cycling till about 21 years old. We really don’t know the exact number of breeding males in China, and the reason is that the number is changing every year. Male cubs are given a stud number and entered into a database with information about their genetics so that the Chinese can match up an appropriate female.
#14 Virginia
All animals have a way of “correcting” their offspring, and bears can be very physical about it. Something that I always keep in mind when I watch Bai Yun and Yun Zi is that males have to be stronger and tougher because they are the ones that will compete for breeding rights. Females don’t have to fight to breed, male bears can kill another male fighting to breed. So when you see her play with him, or correct him, just remember that they are bears, and this is natural to see.
I have been watching Bai now for 5 years and 99% of the time she starts walking around when she knows that lunch is coming. It’s nothing that she’s really trying to teach, it’s just that she gets excited about food coming. When the cub needs to nurse, she allows him. I have never seen her deny him that, and the cub’s bedtime is whenever he gets sleepy.
#16 Anne
All of our giant pandas love wood shavings; it’s almost like catnip for them. We also hide different things in there (a treat, a toy), and we’ll even spray perfume in it to see what they do. It’s all part of their enrichment, and it’s great fun to watch them play in it!
Thanks for posting the pictures. Is it just me, or does Yun Zi look sort of like a reclining Venus in the first photo, with his voluptous “full figured” panda form
hee hee, what a cutie!
Thanks so much for the info on the hearing study! Now it has me wondering is any information on how hearing loss may affect a panda in the wild. Has any such study been done? & if so, could you point me in the right direction to learn more? Thanks so much!
# 41 LIZ Thank you so much for the heads up. I was up late last night and reading through the first 2 months of items written by P Wong and Pamela G. It is hard to keep from giggling too loud while my son (we share a home) is sleeping so he can be ready for work the next day. Earlier in the evening when he is gaming with his pals things can get noisy, so he puts on his headphones and microphone so as not to disturb me..hearing him or hearing them. The funny thing is when I put on headphones and microphone it doesn’t help at all…I still laugh out loud, and nobody is talking.
Thank you so much Liz and Anastasia—you made my day…and I understand there will be videos from the group–how blessed are we?????
# 45 Gabrielle I always said the Keepers would need a crane some day to bring him in—but I was thinking of his chubbiness, not the height.
# 51 Tiny Is this the playful look you mentioned????? http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/wildredchild/GOODAFTERNOONBAIYUN-NAPTIME.jpg I think Bai Yun looks Quite happy and satisfied—that would make a bear playful. The Napper referred to in NAP TIME is our little Fluffy-Butt. Bai looks happy right down to her primly crossed and pointed toes. Or is this the better idea??? http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/wildredchild/untitledforourforourforourforour.jpg Or this??? http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/wildredchild/PANDACOLORED5.jpg I love that smile. Personally I think all three show parts of it, but it is hard to get in one shot.
YOUR ANSWER to #8 Linda, Anastasia has a no no word. “Stud Number” is the last thing these boys need to hear. There will be a parade of them bothering the girl bears telling them that they are such “Studs” they had to give them a number. Next thing you know the boys will all be arguing over whether a higher number makes you better–or a smaller one showing more experience….well you know how boys can be. I caught some snaps of Yun Zi in the den admiring himself in a shiny spot, and speculating how much the Chinese girl bears are going to love him….and he had not even heard about stud numbers…..Love Grammmie
I love the new pics of our superboy Yun Zi. He so reminds me of Tai Shan when he was that age. A real little darling. Keep the pics coming. We love them.
How do you save the pictures from 42?
can I save the pictures in #42 onto my computer some how so I can see little one at all times?
Moderator’s note: Perhaps as a screen capture.
Thank you for the blog. Love the pandas. Will miss Su lin when she moves back to China. But we still have mom and dad so we can hope for more babies. Love the pics.
# 57 CALLIE And # 58 KAY The Best thing I can say, since there are many different programs and computers out there is to check with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and etc. until you find somebody ready, willing, and able to help you understand the “postcard” and how it can funtion simply, and “saving pictures” in general. If you know how to save pictures just click on “save postcard”—–then a new page comes up. If photo is what you hoped for just “save picture” as usual….I hope it helps…..Love Grammmie