We have no formal training going on with nine-month-old Yun Zi right now, only brief moments of behavior conditioning (see post Panda Kindergarten). As he gets older and wants to play more, we keepers become an object of his play bouts. However, this will not be desirable as he gets bigger and stronger, for obvious reasons! So when he is down out of the trees, we try to redirect his behavior to something else, like giving him an enrichment toy, bamboo, or even an apple slice so to discourage his wanting to play with the keepers.
Our next goal is trying to get him to shift into the bedroom with Bai while we clean the exhibit. Since food is always a powerful tool for training, this works well for our adult pandas; they come off exhibit, and treats are their reward. But for a cub that is still not really eating solid foods yet, this can be challenging. So, we will wait until he is older for that. However, we do take advantage of opportunistic times when Yun Zi is near the bedroom and we call him and his mother in; if he comes in with Bai Yun, we try to give him something for a reward: a piece of bamboo to play with or a toy, something for his efforts.
In time, Yun Zi will come to understand that keepers do not make good toys and that it is highly rewarding to come into the bedroom when asked to do so!
Kathy Hawk is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
Oh – little Yunnie is already in 1st grade (*sniff*). He looked like such a big boy this morning climbing up so high in the trees, I almost didn’t recognize him, but for his unmatchable cuteness!
All Bai wanted to do was eat her bamboo and get a drink of water on Wednesday, but with Yun Zi in the picture, things aren’t always simple
2010-05-12 Bai Wants to Eat, Yun Zi!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daIUPB0pOjU
Thank you to those that watched the Zhen Zhen video posted 2 blogs ago! And a special thank you to Suzanne Hall and Pamela Crowe for the informative blogs about SSPs and Conservation Education. And also thank you to Kathy Hawk for this blog on Panda 1st Grade ~ it’s always nice to get a report card on Yun Zi’s progress
That is so sweet! Keepers do not make good toys for pandas. Yun Zi is so cute. What an adorable picture. All the pictures Yun Zi takes are adorable.
Thanks Kathy. I understand why you don’t want to be his latest toy but since I don’t work at the zoo and have other jobs to do each day like you, I will gladly volunteer for this. I know his claws are long and he is strong but even if I last only one day, it would be the best day of my life. Well after the birth of my daughter, maybe.
Sweet post, that picture is precious! Yun Zi seems highly intelligent now, and rather big!! Yun Zi is very active and he sure loves playing with bamboo! These are five descriptions of Yun Zi:
5. Sweet 
1. Adorable
2. Cute
3. Precious
4. Darling
Yun Zi is such a perfect, little panda boy! By the way, I have no school today, so I will might be commenting during school hours. I will share some panda pictures later. It’s still a bit early. Anyway, Peace love and Pandas CIAO!
THAT SOUNDS REAL GOOD, as long as he is not high in the trees napping, or still in his hammock to supervise. But you guys have managed to train 4 other cubs, so I think you know just what to do, and how to do it. I just hope he did not get the shoe stealing gene……….Love Grammmie
T typical baby. Always wanting to play. Love him and the whole family. Thanks SDZ staff for all the wonderful updates.
By the way, for some people who don’t go on Pandasliveon.com, a panda in China (I believe) died a couple days ago at age 30. His name was Chaun Chaun and he fathered pandas named Le Le, Ling Ling and many others. He was born in the wild and he spent his last years at the Chinese breeding center.
Yun Zi should meet up with the new elephant calf for a play date. Sounds like they are both so playful.
#318 Texas Barbi (Gabrielle) in the post “Little bears and big sleeps!” I want to thank you for complementing my writing and backing me up. I turned eleven in February, so yes, I am a kid and I understand that I was being impatient. Who thought I was your daughter??
I know the panda keepers don’t write blogs all day and I know they are very busy. Anyway, I hope everyone has a good day. Did you see the pictures of Miss Zhennie with her donut toy on Flickr? So cute!!
Love these kind of posts!! As someone who has trained Rottweilers for agility and obedience competition, I’m always curious how undomesticated animals are trained. For the Yunni sized Pandas where food isn’t the best motivator, has “clicker training” every been used for positive reinforcement? Thank you!
#2 DOXIEMOM That was a cute video——but when he was doing his “handstands” was he just trying to get into position to get Bai to play with him, or was he scent marking her????? It was very hard to tell. Poor Bai just trying to mind her own business and Prince Fluffy-Butt just would not leave her alone…..Thanks for catching that one…..Love Grammmie
thanks panda team for having zhennie on panda cam so often for some reason anytime my 3yr oold granddaughter sees the pandas she calls them all ‘zhennie’ so i am partial to her. right now she is high in a tree. thanks for all the posts you really do keep us informed. nothing on lul lun yet. is it possible that a panda could miss a year of having an estrus?
I don’t know how you can keep from playing with Yun Zi as he’s so lovable. I understand why you can’t but I think it would be very hard not to play with them..
Good bye ChuanChuan,Thank you for the 30 years of hapyyness you gave me.you dont need the slide anymore,but it is still there.The cubs truely love it.
‘Bai, are you ready?’
‘Almost. Let me touch up my lippy and I will be out.’
Bai Yun spun round and looked at herself in the full length mirror. She smiled at the reflection. Draped in a form fitting gown from Pawlintino, with jewels from Beary Winston, she knew she looked a million dollars. She pressed the stick of ruby red lip stick on her lips, ‘Moonlight Magic’ by Estee Pawder, and she was ready.
As she stepped through the curtains, a million flash bulbs went off as the Pandarazzi went wild. As she twirled and posed, their cries of ‘Look here, Bai Baby!’ ‘Pose, Baby Pose’ and ‘Gorgeous, just gorgeous’ went louder and louder.
As she strutted down the catwalk, she looked confident and her fluffy cheeks had a delicate blush.
From the other end of the catwalk, in his Hugo Bear suit stop stud master Gao Gao. Although he was tiny for a catwalk model, his endearing looks have won him fans from around the world.
He whipped off the sunglasses and strode towards Bai Yun. He pulled her into an embrace. Then he spun her round and round. Her red gown with its pleats just fanned out beautifully. And then he dipped her. He looked deep into her lovely eyes and whispered those sweet words, ‘You are my sugar pie honey bun!’
‘OUCH! Yunnie, what are you doing???!!!’
‘Mama, play with me! You are my trampoline! Wheee!’
‘I was having a lovely nap!’
‘You look lovely Mama, you dont need so much beauty sleep!’
‘Cheeky boy! Come here and let me give you a lesson on manners!’
‘Catch me first! Hee Hee, I am going up this tree!’
‘Just you wait, Master Yun Zi, ust you wait and see. Mama is going to come and get you!’
‘Hee Hee! WOAH, Mommy Monster is coming, Hee Hee! Hey, that tickles….help!’
Thank you, Kathy. The current curriculum is: Lesson 1 – Keepers are not toys. Lesson 2 – Coming when called pays off. Will he likely master #1 or both by his birthday?
When you write your book about your time with Bai, Gao and the cubbys, please let us know so we can advance order it. I hope you are planning a full expose. No detail is too trivial for pandaholics. We know that you, Dr. Linburg, Dr. Swaisgood, and Dr. Sutherland-Smith have been with Bai since before she was a momma bear – much less a Hero Mother. Of that group, ONLY YOU have been up close and personal with beautiful Bai and her baby bears on a daily basis. Rita Petita and KJ Drill maybe could help with photos. I predict a best seller.
#13 DOREEN IN RICHMAN, VA perhaps your daughter would like to see a lot of Zhennie photos, by RITA PETITA, at this link http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/ the first 4 pages are all of Zhennie except for 2 or 3. If you have never worked with Flikr somebody here will help you. Rita is not only a great photographer, but is devoted to the Panda family ar our Zoo.
#14 ALICE I bet you were referring to each and every one of us Yun Zi Auntie.
#15 MC IN SHANGHAI We do feel badly for the loss ShangHai feels…and you are right there are many cubs and cubbettes who will enjoy the slide.
#16 LUCILLA as always a great story, with glamor, fun, and a lesson for Master Gao Yun Zi……Love Grammmie
Panda Annie: Hi, I made it clear that you are not my daughter, so people would know that I was not saying something, just because you were my daughter. I said something, because I figured that the adult people commenting did not realize you are a child, but probably thought you are an adult. I just thought it right for adults to be patient with children on the site, especially since adults are usually even more impatient than kids. I would be proud to have you as a daughter that is not the issue. I know your parents are very proud of you, as I am very proud of my daughter. I just wanted people to know I was not standing up for you just because you were my daughter. I hope that makes some sense.
I am excited to hear from Project Bamboo. Grammmie, thank you for links to pictures of Zhen Zhen. Zhen Zhen is way impressive!!!!!!!!
How does a person become a panda researcher? Maybe, I might want to be a panda researcher.
We were watching a kid’s show recently, and who did we see on the show? Well, I am not sure, but my daughter thinks it was Tian Tian. Oh, he looked so sweet, he was younger, obviously. Tian Tian looks so big now. Wow!
#16 Lucilla, Cute story.
Thanks, Kathy, for the update on Yun Zi. He is a cutie pie.
Oh my – Bai has the patience of a saint. Saint Bai! What a darling video, Doxie. Love the way Yun Zi does the panda lean-back right next to Mama. Too cute. Kathy, thank you so much for your information. Too big for cuddles, now! I can’t imagine getting any work done at all with that little guy tugging and pulling on your pant legs! They look cute and fuzzy, but they are STRONG at this age. You are so lucky to be there every day to watch him grow.
Lucilla, Excellent, Excellent!
MC in ShangHai, it is sad to hear about the loss of ChuanChuan. I can tell you cared about him. Your tribute to ChuanChuan touches my heart.
DoxieMom, thank you once again for adorable footage of little Yun Zi.
Thanks for the wonderful information Kathy!
Panda First Grade? I agree with others that Yun Zi is getting so much bigger I have a harder time distinquishing him from his mom. He is so adorable and lovable. My husband and I are planning on visiting the San Diego Zoo for the first time in early September. I will be heading right to the Panda Exhibit!
Thank for all the Panda Stories, Pat
Thank you, DoxieMom, for this video of Bai and Yun Zi and for the excellent Zhen Zhen videos a few blogs back. What was Zhennie doing standing on her head–or forepaws–scent marking? Playing? Some new training for the Pandas in Space program?
Thanks, Lucilla, for the excellent characterization of Bai and Mr. Gao Gao. Now what do you think Zhennie dreams about?
Doxie-Mom! What a fun video of this pair. Yun Zi was walking up his mom backwards at one time and Bai Yun just gently pushed him back. Thanks so much for sharing this glimpse of momma and baby. Hugs, Pat
Hello all…..thank you Kathy for the update. I haven’t written on the blog for some time as I’ve been involved in traveling and then watching the owl cam of Molly and McGee, and the Eagle cam too….. guess I just love all animals, but the Pandas are still my very favorite. At the Panda Convention in March there were several who mentioned they would like to get a group together next year, or the following, to go see them in China. Who is interested….??
bet it is like training a puppy to come with bisquits!! too cute!
The panda cam is zoomed up on Yun Zi sleeping. He is breathing quite rapidly. His fur is so clean, he looks so peacefl right now. His head is facing the opposite direction of the camera, but it is still a precious little “scene”.
Moderators. A question I have wondered about for awhile now. Since China has very upclose personal contact with their Pandas on a daily basis and SDZ has none how do the Pandas transition to this personal attention when they go back to China? Are you privy to what and how they get the Pandas to accept the personal contact with their keepers. Thank you.
Moderator’s note: Our keepers do get close to the adult pandas, even though there is a wire mesh barrier. Remember, Bai Yun loves her back scratches and we couldn’t perform ultrasound procedures on her without that personal, albeit safe, contact. When one of our pandas moves to China, they gradually learn how to work with their new keepers.
Doxie Mom # 2…..This is one of your best ever productions!
Bai and Yunnie were almost human…and you captured it so well….
Baby was so dear, playing with Mommy who kept trying to give him the brush-off.
” Don’t bother me while I am eating, be a nice boy and go play!”
It certainly gave me a chuckle…a cute, funny little interlude.
Just when I think every precious moment has been captured…
Another memorable “happening” occurs!
Thanks for making my day.
11 Dianna – Ohio
To clicker train he’d have to be conditioned to the clicker which means he’ll need a treat he likes. It seems that at the moment he’s not taking treats. I know that other pandas are clicker trained and that in China the keepers use a tongue click. Clicker training came into the dog world from the marine parks so it’s been used in the zoo environment for many years.
It seems that right now the cub is learning the basics of operant conditioning and I’m sure the clicker or subsitute will be introduced when he’s older.
This is a stupid question, but why can’t little Cloud learn to live among the humans? I mean, he will never go out into the wild, so we wouldn’t have to worry about any evil minded humans taking advantage of him. Wouldn’t it be nice for all keepers that are ever in his life and around him, not to fear him? He could learn proper etiquette among them and just be the proper gentle bear…..Is it because he will want to hang in the employee lounge and go home with them at the end of the day, because he will begin to think of himself as a human? Would he start to shun other pandas? Just curious….I suppose the real reason is that we just want him to be a panda boy…..
Thank you for any input.
Moderator’s note: You nailed it with that last phrase: we just want him to be a healthy, well-adjusted panda. Even though he will have always been surrounded by humans, he is-and will always be-a wild animal. It is our policy to recognize these magnificent creatures for what they are, and to respect their natural instincts, behaviors, and needs.
Awwwhhh so CUTE!!! I LOVE pandas!!! <3
Doxie you do such good work!!! You make so many of us happy! Thank you.
Kathy the information you post is so great. I can’t believe how much I have learned about panda’s on this site. Keep it up for us okay? Thank you.
Kathy : I too would volunteer to be a play-date for Yunior as I rewatched videos of his older sisters and brother become little ankle biters……LOL…. I agree to prevent injury to a keeper in the future as what happened with Tai Shan at the National Zoo as in his eyes he still thought he was the same little cub that used to be encouraged to play with his keepers until he almost caused a serious injury… DoxieMom thanks for the latest video as I always seem to be at work when he moves up the CUTENESS Scale another notch …. Your videos will allow Lynn to enjoy the first 9 months of Yun Zi when she finally gets released from her 17 month Hospital stay,coupled with all the blogs from his birth she will be able to share the Joy that Yunior has brought us all ….
“Panda peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things…….”
Moderator. I totally agree with SDZ’s reasoning but knowing they will be sent back to China where there will be that human contact my question and curiosity lies in what method is used by the keepers in China to introduce those Pandas to being in such close contact with people? I am not questiong SDZ reasonings and methods only wondering about the transition in China if you know.
#11 -Dianna – Jay, a previous trainer ZA used a clicker to train a aggressive panda when he was in China. and he is in is training Yang -
The love of a Yang panda & his keeper Jay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJPTvIyv7PU&feature=related
DoxieMom – too funny
Reaally appreciate the up-dates. All the info I can get is great. Thanks!!
Yun Zi is now in 1grade wow too cute. I am sure he is learning alot. Love and best wishes from a big panda fan. Meegan
#11 Dianna – Ohio
Absolutely!!! When we use a clicker for positive reinforcement, we have used, in the past, tactile rewards, i.e. scratches on a favorite body spot on our young pandas; a favorite toy being offered was another training tool we used. Our main training goal at that time was to make our interactions with the cubs a positive one, and later on, when they start eating solid food, we already have an established relationship and food is, if you excuse the pun, icing on the cake in training!
The Panda Team and Yun Zi get an A++!
such a fun video to see him do something besides sleeping……thank you DoxieMom!
Now back to Molly, the owl and the owlets that might fledge this weekend……and they come with sound….
Thanks to Doxiemom for the darling pictures of the two of them eating. Mom was so gentle with him.
I really enjoy all the blogs and the information. I have learned so much since I starting watching when
Yun Zi was born. I can hardley wait to get to see the panda and all of the other animals at the zoo
lu
THERE ARE 2 NEW BAI YUN AND Prince Fluffy-Butt photos up on Rita Petita’s Flikr page—-really cute. I sure hope you enjoy them…. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/ …….Love Grammmie
GOOD MORNING BLOG……..So nice to see you back after your weekend off. Whenever I log on to my computer I always check to see if things have happened to move along…imagine my surprise to find that all of the blogs were offline for the entire weekend. Couple that with the camera not switching to night view on Satrurday night and I thought maybe the Panda Zoo world had come to an end. Sure is good to have everything back to normal….Love Grammmie
Moderator’s note: Sorry about the access problem over the weekend; we’re glad to be back in business!
IT IS TIME TO CHECK IN ON RITA PETITA’S Flikr account to see some great new photos of Prince Yun Zi. The first four are of him alone……the next of him and mommie, then one of him and mommie’s…..derrier. Too cute to miss in my humble opinion….and here is an easy way to get to the goodies…..Love Grammmie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/
Moderator, was there something amiss with the blogs over the weekend? Did we, panda fans, clog the lines up again? I could not view any of the blogs, although I could watch the cams. I hope everything is up and running again.
Moderator’s note: It wasn’t the fault of Panda Fans, just “normal” glitches. And as you can see, we’re back!
It is 10:45 SDZ time and Su Lin has assumed a most uncomfortable- looking position for sleeping. How these bears do it is beyond me.
I was thinking that Lin Pings birthday should be coming up soon. Anybody know when? I’m sure the zoo will treat her to a grand party.
#38 Maureen – thanks for the video link to Jay and Yang. It was fascinating to watch the interaction between the two. Just think of the adrenaline rush you would get the first time the “wild” animal you are working with “gets” the relationship between your signal and expected result. I would think it would be something a bit higher than when my Rottie understood my hand signals to directed jumping..
I’ve watched the Thailand Zoo work with Lin Hui and LP’s Dad. They have a stick with a little red ball on the end. I think I saw Mei Lan and a keeper with a stick/red ball combination too…
Was it just my computer or was the blog down over the weekend? This is the first time I was able view any of the blogs/comments. Missed my pandaholic buddies over the weekend.
WITH THE WEEKEND OFF MY MIND WANDERED a bit—so LUCILLA—-We need to know more about the Bamboo Diamond and how it became associated with the Pandas of the world, and so prized by them. The photo of Yunior doing——trying to do——-his sit-ups got me to thinking that perhaps he will dream of being the newest Excercise Guru and we know he needs it. In this photo he looks like he is trying really hard to get that first sit-up done http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4573563210/ …..Love Grammmie
The Panda Blogs weren’t working yesterday. I tried on 3 other computers so then I told my dad. He said it might just be that there’s something wrong with the SDZ stuff. Anyway, what happened?
Moderator’s note: We apologize for the frustration (but way to persevere!)- we had a server outage over the weekend.
kat w. #33 – I don’t know if this is what promted your post, but there was a recent article on CNN.com about 4 animals who could talk that mentions the sad story of Lucy the chimp. She was raised like a human daughter to a psychologist and his wife for 12 years before she became too much for them to handle. They brought her to a reserve in Africa, but she was traumatized by the change and never fully adjusted. She was eventually found dead, perhaps killed by poachers. I did a little searching about this case, and it was apparently very controversial and ultimately very sad for this animal who was raised to satisfy human whimsy and then abandoned. We wouldn’t want this to happen to our beautiful Yun Zi who will eventually become too big and strong for the safety of his keepers. I hope I don’t sound moralizing, but Yun Zi deserves a dignified life that respects the beautiful panda that he is
The story can be found at:
http://www(dot)cnn(dot)com(slash)2010(slash)LIVING(slash)wayoflife(slash)05(slash)14(slash)mf(dot)animals(dot)that(dot)could(dot)talk/
So glad the blogs are back–I was going into withdrawal!
Thank you Kathy, love the update. And DoxieMom, as always, lovely video. Poor poor Bai!!
This may be an awfully silly question, but. .. . . Has anyone noticed the new panda cub pictures on Pandas Live On? They are of cubs at the Wolong base and their coats look much thicker than our little guys. Was wondering if this was because of a difference in weather or diet. Or, an optical illusion from looking at too many panda pix?
Makes me sad to think our little man is growing so quickly!!!
I am sure he will be a fast learner and will learn to do all the right behaviours.
Thanks for the great update!
# 49 pandafan-north: May 27th… a day after me… although I won’t be turning one… more like 30-something.
lol
I know I missed the Panda Fans and Moderator this weekend, as well. You all entertain me. This might be a good time for my tribute to Yun Zi and Family.
When my man left for overseas, I cried for a week. I decided to use this year productively. Then, Yun Zi was born. Yun Zi and Family have taken my daughter and me on an adventure, which is still going on. Instead of it being a boring, miserable year, it has been an adventure. Live long, live strong and Prosper Panda Boy and Family. My man lived in California for a number of years. He went to SDZ back then. By the Grace of God, he is taking us to SDZ to see Yun Zi this vacation. We are coming Yun Zi. No need for sit ups, I like your tummy as is.
#53 It looks to me like Yun Zi would go back to China or stay in the US and breed. I don’t have any inside information, but I would expect Yun Zi to be kept in human care in order to breed like his older brother. By the Grace of God, Yun Zi will stay in human care. You are right, Yun Zi is too precious to be put out to fend for himself. All these pandas are too precious to be put out to fend for themselves. I expect them to have good lives in human care the rest of their long lives.
I’m still home sick, I just came back from the doctors. Glad the panda blogs are working again. Here are some great panda pictures:
rlv(dot)zcache(dot)com(slash)panda_blossom_mousepad-p144611221513141159trak_400(dot)jpg
www(dot)robertbateman(dot)ca/paintings/GiantPanda2.jpg
www(dot)xabusiness(dot)com/chinese-paintings-picture/chinese-brush-paintings/1/br-0435b.jpg
vrempire.com/Image/BlogImg/20090423-PandaPS2.jpg
fineartamerica(dot)com/images-medium/panda-bear-john-keaton(dot)jpg
By the way, this morning I printed out all of the SDZ pandas (Bai Yun, Gao Gao, Mei Sheng, Su Lin, Zhen Zhen and Yun Zi) and taped them onto my desk. I have a framed picture of Bai Yun (that I actually bought at the SDZ) on my wall, so I can look at her before I fall asleep at night.
I got a new panda stuffed animal!! It is my eleventh and is a boy. My sister got it for me at the San Francisco Giants game she went to on Sunday. The panda has a Giants jersey on, that says “Sandaval” number 48. Pablo Sandaval is a Giants baseball player. Pablo’s nickname is “Panda” ever since last year when he saw the movie “Kung Fu Panda” (love that movie!). Well, I still haven’t come up with a name for the stuffed animal yet. If you have any cute, boy panda names for me, tell me in a comment! If it is a chinese name, please write how to pronounce it too! Thanks
;-)
Peace, Love and Pandas CIAO!
#49 PAN-FAN NORTH Princess Lin Ping will not be having a Birthday Party in less than a month—-it will be A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. They seem to celebrate her every month with a party so just one more party surely wouldn’t be good enough. Actually she is related to the Gao royal family, is an accomplished Panda Dancer (check out her free leg when she dances—-no one equals her in grace and elegance when solo dancing), and had her own dedicated television station for some months in Tailand. Her keepers adore her, and CK even held her on his lap for a trip down her slide when she was afraid she might chip a nail. I bet she even gets a front row seat when the ALL PANDA SPACE SHUTTLE CREW has it’s take off. I missed BRUCE IN KC over the weekend—was sure hoping to get some Sooperpanna and X-Man news and photos for the last flight of the Atlantis Space Shuuttle……Love Grammmie
#53 LINDA Well Said ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !…..Love Grammmie
Grammmie: With the blog down, I satisfied myself by going out to Rita’s site. I saw these pics.. LOVE the one with Momma Bai… What an expression Yunior has on his face… like he’s afraid she will smell his “apple breath”
#56 Anne: I saw the pictures. I think they look like they have more undercoat than our pandas. I would assume it would be because of the weather differences.
Hi everyone,
Wanted to post about this yesterday (5/16), but the blog was down
In our local newspaper (The San Diego Union Tribune-A10), I came across a wonderful half page (in color) photo of Yun Zi gnawing on a piece of tree bark while sitting in front of a couple of tree stumps.
A very cute and nice pic of Yun Zi!!!
-by the way, this is an ad from us bank
P.S. Maybe someone who has the newspaper can post the pic (if we are allowed to) as I’m not too computer savvy, but I’ll give it a try if no one has by tomorrow or later tonight.
Oh, 1st grade time! Based on your 2:45 am actions this morning, Yuninator, you will be in the principal’s office sooner than you think.
No matter how wonderful modern technology is, it too has its problems. Nice to see all back and functioning. Thanks Mods, for fixing. # 56 Anne. Not a silly question. I noticed that myself from videos a while back. But since they are so pampered in China I thought maybe a keeper Blew Dry their hair with x’tra conditioning. No, really I to believe its the colder weather. In SDZ they don’t need that winter coat. Its pretty around their face. Don’t you think?
A big thanks to Kathy Hawk for this post and the followup info.
Moderator: could we get an updated weight for Yunnie on Meet the Pandas page?
Yep, I admit, I had withdrawl symptoms this weekend, glad everything is back and running.
Moderator’s note: I’ll add updated Yun Zi’s weight to my task list.
#59 TEXAS BARBI (GABRIELLE) I have it on good authority that Prince Fluffy-Butt will still have his “Yummy Tummy” whenever you get here…”excercise guru” would only be in his dreams….and he will be eating more solid foods, and drinking much more milk by then—-I would not worry that he will change much—-just get cuter and bigger.
#60 TEXAS BARBI (GABRIELLE) It is unlikely that Yunior will be sent into the wild…..or others of his generation. Unless the problem of a large enough territory to sustain a wild population without the danger of poaching, etc. is solved Pandas may have to be sustained in captivity. Because they only live in the most populated country in the world sometimes it feels like land will always be a problem. Some might wonder if they could be trained to live in other areas of the world, since aparently Bamboo will grow in many varied areas, but then there would be the problem of predators not of their area…so it is a hard to know what is best. The researchers will have to keep working on it….they did solve the problem of getting some to breed in captivity-and that is a big step forward, along with much more success with AI, but there are many more steps to come yet.
#61 & #62 PANDA ANNIE Thank you for the photos links. I am sorry to hear that you are still ill. Congrats on the new Panda….and even an old grammmie loves “Kung Fu Panda”–It was my 40+ year old son (we share a home together) who brought it to my attention—-because he likes it too. Now is the time to start getting better…..you do not want to misss too much school.
#64 DIANNA – OHIO While surfing one of her streams one day I managed to find myself on a comletely different photographer’s stream, enjoying photos of Mai Sheng and Hua Mei in China. Through that I found a photo of HAO HAO, Bai Yun’s Youngest Grand-Cubette, and then Hua’s only single birth. Still wandering I found a lovely photos of Hua Mei with Hao Hao in an almost mirror image post of one of blog headings, often referred to being “Ruebenesque” because Yunnie looked so chubby. Hao Hao is chubby too. I actually cannot rememeber if it was a cross “stream” or I looked for Hua Mei…but the results were great……Love Grammmie
This boy is getting so big and so cute! I look at the cams when I am down as I have a sister in law who is taking treatments for stomach cancer. I think pandas would be a good symbol for stomach cancer..but no one listens to me! It is great that this family of pandas has had such luck with healthy panda offspring! Keep up the good work Pandas and anytime is playtime with the Keepers! Just kidding!
Grammmie, now you got me thinking. Do pandas in the wild in China have a protected area? Like in the US, we have parks where animals are protected.
#66 MARY If you click on the link it will take you to a photo of Yun Zi eating bark……let me know if it is somewhat like the one you saw in the paper. (I can hardly imagine this particular one made the paper or an ad—–since it had been raining making him look kind of dirty.)……Love Grammmie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4395528186/
To Kathy #67: What exactly was our darling Yunior doing at 2:45 am that will get him sent to the Principle’s Office?
I watched The Amazing Panda Adventure last weekend. It’s from like 1995, Cute movie.
I wonder who the pandas were (when they used real ones and not the fake ones…I could tell the difference).
Lin Ping must be in 1st grade as well now, mommy Lin Hui did all she could to wake her up at 7:25 AM local time. Lin Ping is up, but kind of sleepy. She must be waiting for the teacher to show up!!
I don’t know if it is part of the renovation of the pandas’ new quarters or the preparation for Lin Ping’s 1 year birthday, but they have a new color camera in the indoor enclosure, that is quite an improvement.
They may have read one of my comments made earlier on this blog about the lack of water fountain attached to the wall for the pandas, they have one now!! Way to go…
I am sure it will be a GRAND event for Lin Ping turning one year old on May 27th. Just 2 days after my own birthday. But I won’t turn one year old either #58 Marie!!! lol
#67 KATHY IN CT I slept through 2:45 a. m. but it must have been a great time….he has mostly been sleeping in his hammock all day—no time to go to the Pricipal’s Office for our Yuninator. Who would you rather face–Big Sister Su who is the Principal or Big Momma Bai?????…Love Grammmie
Panda Annie — calling your new panda stuffie Pablo would be perfect!
Doxiemom, I loved the video of our little prince playing with mom while she was eating. She sure stays focused when it comes to food. Perfect example of the blog above. Thanks for another great read about our bears. It is nice that you let the baby be a baby and play and not try to train him so much while he is so young. I do understand that you have to slowly work on getting him to come in and out or whatever. I also would volunteer to play a play toy for the cub for awhile, I think I would risk injury to play with him for a few hours. He is tooo adorable not to. I know it is a job for the zoo staff but it still has to melt your heart each time you see him. It is funny how attached you can become to these bears through a virtual world. I just love all of them. The tender moments with Bai and Yunior are adorable. I pray she can have another one, she is just so good at it! I notice that her and Gao are not really tree climbers so much, is that what is noticed with all the older bears?
I JUST CHECKED IN ON THE PANDAS LIVE ON BLOG, they have a new topic up today….. “China and visiting the Panda Bases, a world of its own”….. is the title. To reach the blog you can simply type the three words “Pandas Live On” into your address bar and you shouldl go right to it……Love Grammmie
Thanks for the update on the server error as we Pandaholics were in a Panda withdrawal with no blog to read or comment on…..I found myself again yesterday wondering if it was Bai Yun or Yun Zi enjoying their bamboo until Bai Yun came into the picture and I realizes it was Yunior munching on his boo…….He has the Panda seat and eat routine down as he ate like mom….LOL……
To all my GPF Family and Friends I’m on hour to hour notice on when I have to pick up Lynn and her nurse from a local NJ/NYC Airport as soon as her Doctor’s can arrange an Angel with Wings Flight for them from upstate NY to the NY Metro area…..If not home at least she will be within easy visiting distance instead of 4 1/2 hours away…..Again we Thank-You all of you from the bottom of our Hearts for all the Kindness and words of encouragement and Get Well Wishes and Prayers as Yunior and Queen B have great healing powers along with all of your comments both here and on the SDZ and Panda-Fandom Facebook pages…..We are now planning Lynn’s follow up SoCal Doctors Appointments and most importantly when we can visit our Favorite Pandas in person at the SDZ hopefully before Lin Lin leaves for China and Yunior hits 1 year old….
” Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things…….”
THERE 2 MORE NEW RITA PETITA PHOTOS UP—-On top is ZZ being her big silly, happy, funny, nutzy self followed by her Baby Brother about to make a big mistake—-WAKE UP MOMMY. I will give him this—he is sneaking up from behind…..probably the only good way to try…Love Grammmie—Here is the link in case you don’t have it handy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/
The Legend of the Bamboo Diamond
Long ago in far away China, deep in the mountains of the fluffy white clouds, nestled in a hidden valley of magical bamboo was the magical Kingdom of the Pandas. In those days, pandas lived in great harmony with men and beast. The King of the Pandas was a brave and wise one. He had ruled his Kingdom for 5 years when his advisors came to see him.
‘Sire, we have come to see you on a grave matter.’
‘What is it, Advisor Chen?’ asked the concerned King Wei Xiong (Mighty Bear).
‘Sire, you have been our ruler for 5 years now but you are still unmarried. It is time for us to find you a bride that can produce an heir to the throne.’
‘Is that what is troubling you? All right then. It is as you say time for me to find a Queen. Before my late Mother passed away, she gave me her precious Bamboo Diamond. It has magical powers. When I place it on the right Panda Maiden, it will glow and our union will be a blessed one. For when it is won by one with a sincere and pure heart, will it glow.’
From that day on, the members of the Imperial Palace was on a quest to find the perfect Panda Princess for their King. And although many famed beauties were brought to him, they all failed the Test of the Bamboo Diamond. Soon the advisors were despairing of ever finding a suitable bride.
During the Mid Autumn Festival, King Wei Xiong decided to take a trip incognito into his kingdom to see if his subjects were happy. He was pleased with what he saw for they were all joyful and well looked after, a testimony to his kindly and wise rule.
As he was walking past a village, he heard the plantiful song of sadness and unrequited love wafting over the walls of a house. He peered into the garden. On a stone stool sat the most beautiful Panda lady he had ever seen. She had perfectly shaped round ears and white fluffy cheeks. However her eyes were filled with tears. She was playing the qu zhen (a stringed instrument) and lamenting that she was yet to meet the man of her dreams. King Wei Xiong’s heart melted and he was certain that she was the One.
King Wei Xiong went into the village to enquire of this maiden. He discovered that Mei Yun (Beautiful Cloud)was the daughter of the village head. King Wei Xiong returned to his palace and sent for the village head and for Mei Yun.
The village head and Mei Yun entered the palace in reverent awe. King Wei Xiong stepped forward and greeted them cordially. Inviting them to sup on a sumtious 10 course bamboo meal with apples and yams.
He then asked permission to and marry Mei Yun. Mei Yun blushed and hid behind her father.
King Wei Xiong produced the Bamboo Diamond and presented it to Mei Yun. Very tentatively, she reached out and took it in her paw. At that moment, the diamond shone brightly and burst into song.
‘I was right! You are the one! Will you be my wife?’
‘Yes, my lord, you are my one true love! I will be your wife,’ as Mei Yun shyly takes the King’s paw.
‘And this Bamboo Diamond will from henceforth be one of the treasures of the Panda Kingdom for it stands for true love and purity of heart! May it always bless all the Pandas of the World with love and purity!’
The Kingdom celebrated the wedding of King Wei Xiong and the Panda maiden Mei Yun for months as they loved this Panda Couple. In their long and blessed union, they were blessed with many panda cubbies. It is rumoured that some of the pandas in our zoos today are direct descendents of this royal line. The stories of King Wei Xiong and Queen Mei Yun are the bed time stories that many a Panda Mama tell their cubbles. And so the Legend of the Bamboo Diamond lives on in the annals of the Panda Kingdom.
Oh! The blog is back.
Grammmie :I love these photos!
Good morning everyone!
Grammmie, you are right, Yun Zi does have a Yummy Tummy!!! I think I will do some crunches (sit ups) for him instead, one set of 50 reps for Yun Zi, so he won’t have to. I will look at Yun Zi’s work out picture to remind me to do those crunches. Yun Zi IS a workout guru!! Yun Zi has gotten so big.
Panda Annie, I hope you are feeling better today. Bruce, I hope all is well for you.
#83 Lucilla – What a beautiful and heartwarming story, I am sure panda cubs have very sweat dreams after hearing that story from their Mamas…
All I can say is that I want RitaPetitas job!!! She gets the best pictures…
Lucilla: Your stories are so cute…
Danielle: I need to go out and see what’s happening with LP.. I tried a couple times but get this cam on the inside exhibits, black/white/grey colors and I hear a clanking noise every once in a while… strange.. I’m going through LP’s Live website.. Can’t wait to see what they’ll do for her birthday… hope she gets a huge birthday ice cake like our US pandas do…but then she’ll get messy and of course then comes the bath..
Dennis/Lynn: I bet time is moving very slowly for you right now being on “standby”.. Lynn is going to love Yunior and she’ll have to check out LP and Xi….
#83 – Lucilla, TYVM for the wonderful tale of the Bamboo Diamond. I never knew that Pandas are such romantics!
# 74- On the back left side of the stone den, one large “sensible” head was bobbing around, munching on the boo. Then another smaller, with a way too large attitude, head began bobbing, also. Suddenly, it appeared as though a weedwacker had started up- boo flying (an obvious playing with food in the cafeteria infraction) everywhere up to the sky! A tornado of flying food- and then off into the night the masked marauder beelines- no clean-up, leaving the scene without permission- the list could go on and on. As a middle school teacher, if this cavalier behavior is not re-directed, and soon…
#72 TEXAS BARBI Yes they do, the problem being that they are 6 small areas, but not being connected it is feared that they are inbreeding too much. The Chinese are trying to connect them with safe corridors so more gene mixing can occur in the wild.
If you go find the National Zoo Blog they have maps showing prehistoric, historic, and present areas where Pandas are found in the wild. A few stories down in the ‘Pandas Live On’ blog tells about areas they are beginning to show up in that they had not been in until recently. Now you know why Lucilla’s last story had our little scamps on a mission to protect the bamboo forests—-until Yunior woke up. Also in #85 nice of you to TAKE IT ON for our little YUMMY TUMMY.
#83 LUCILLA Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for such a beautiful story. We know Bai Yun and all of her cubs and cubettes must be decended from King Wei Xiong and Queen Mei Yun. The story was certainly worth waiting for. Brillilant ! ! ! ! !
#84 MC IN SHANGHAI We all are so glad to have the blog back since it is the only way most of us correspond with each other. I feel silly that I never thought of trying to reach anybody at our Facebook “Panda-fandom Worldwide” Page. I should have thought of it since I go check up there every now and then. I missed everybody over the weekend.
http://www (dot) facebook (dot) com/group.php?gid=272470520621
(Delte spaces and replace (dot) with a period to make link work.)
IF YOU ARE WATCHING THE Panda Cam the last hour or so you have seen Bai taking her after breakfast or before lunch nap…..then a little action from Su Lin, until she found a comfy place for the same, followed by just a bit from ZZ then on to napping like mom and sister. Oh to be such lovely bears……Love Grammmie
I am curious as to how Su Lin’s crate training is coming? Is she becoming more comfortable in the crate. I am sure she will do fine! Any word on when she will be leaving?
Another play session with ‘The Box’ from Zhen Zhen. Unfortunately one of my cats decided to jump on me and stopped me from watching properly. I’m sure they do it on purpose.
Hope you’re feeling better today Panda Annie.
MISS ZZ MADE A LIAR out of me….just as I hit “submit” after my last post she came to life and has not slowed down yet…..Love Grammmie——-great camera work ! ! ! ! !
Lucilla–another great story.
I’m loving watching Miss Zhen Zhen frolicking her way through her day. Wheeeeeee!
I JUST SAW ZZ STANDING UPRIGHT WITH HER FEET INSIDE her drinker…..bending to grab water and splashing it up over herself with her paws. I thought only the babies thought those drinlkers were tiny bath tubs for them…..kove Grammmie
GET ZZ A DRUM, LONGER EARS, paint her pink—she keeps going, and going, and going……..
# 76 Danielle, NY – Ah, a fellow Gemini. Funny how you, me and Ping all follow one another. It will be a 3-day celebration of fiesty Gems … May 25-27.
# 82 Grammmie – Thanks for the link. LOVE LOVE that Zhennie pic! She’s just the best!
#89: Thanks Kathy. Wow, getting caught without a hall pass is serious stuff, not to mention the food-fight. Maybe Yunior has been watching “Animal House”? He is so cute, even when he misbehaves.
We may not get to have a panda cub this year at the NZ. But our 2 Andean bear cubs make their public debut this weekend. Plus the big news is a lion cub was born this morning to 6-yr-old Nababiep!
Moderator’s note: Congratulations on the precious births! Lion cubs are always a welcome addition, and the Andean bear cubs are an extra-marvelous accomplishment. Long may they thrive!
#87 Dianna – Ohio – I am watching Lin Ping on http://linping.truelife.com/ Yesterday was the first day I noticed the new camera in the “inside” enclosure. Don’t foget that if you are watching during our daylight hours, it is night in Thailand and they have dimmed light in the enclosure.
If you watch the following video: Lin Ping Daily Hi-Light#1-170510 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSxWp3nl0VA you will see the improved images and the progress that Lin Ping has made. At 355 days old, she weight 35.8 kg, nearly 79 lbs, two keepers are carrying her now to the scale and the basket will be too small very soon. Her keepers seem to have started some sort of training but I don’t think she is obeying yet!!! She is still a funny cub full of energy and wanting to play with everything and everyone, as she should be. Lol
TEXAS BARBI (GABRIELLE) If you go to Rita Petita’s Flikr page 1, fourth photo down our Prince Fluffy-Butt is pointing to his “Yummy Tummy” with his right paw while holding a snackie in his left paw. I think he was thinking of you….Love Grammmie
Kathy in CT, I volunteer to go to the principal’s office with Yun Zi. However, I have a feeling that Yun Zi can get away with anything.
Thanks Grammmie, I will check out the maps you mentioned tonight and read Lucilla’s story as well. I hope China succeeds at making those safe corridors for the pandas. Pandas fascinate me, they are so decorative. Yun Zi is starting to look like his dad as he leans back eating his bamboo, or whatever he was eating.
Yunior On The Move Alert! He’s come down from the throne, took some boo from Bai, and is doing cute things… He’s actually up in the middle of the day??? DoxieMom… this might be a video moment…
Danielle #101: That’s the video of LP destroying the sapling, landing on her back then flipping over to attack CK’s feet, HK trying out a new ‘do and has the big bandage on his finger, and LP falling into the water… Love that video!!! So much going on!!! She tried to kill the sapling twice just in that one video.
Speaking of lion cubs, the Bronx zoo’s Sukari had triplet cubs on Jan 27–two girls and a boy. They just went on exhibit a few weeks ago and are awaiting their names (pending the end of a naming contest). They are so cute all together.
Is it cooler in San Diego this week? The pandas are all alot more active during the day than they were last week.
Harumph! I just haven’t had a chance to snatch glimpses of the pandas as before, which makes me all twitchy!
Anyway, I snuck a peek of Little Cloud yesterday and MY!!! He is really growing big! His head seems fluffier so he is definitely growing to be a genius of bears! What a difference a few days makes when not watching them, then, wow, spurts, I tell ya!
Anyway, I caught Ma and little Cloud a few minutes ago, they were playing, Ma looked pretty intense there for a few minutes, then the Cam backed off…. = ( oh well, they are still there, alive and well. = )
Kisses and love
Auntie Kat
They’re still playing! Hooray!!!!!
I follow Yun Zi from Italy, almost every day. I’m really fond of him and his Mum!
Before going sleeping I just watch the panda’s camera and this is my sweet lullaby.
Today Yun zi seems very active and he was really lovely, cute eating bamboo….
Thanks for allowing me to share San Diego’s panda life from my sofa in Italy!!!!
I came across another nice video of Lin Ping, shorter and without comments from keepers: Lin Ping Daily Hi-Light (Sweet Panda)-160510 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RArugoO74gM
I saw some zany Zhennie behavior this morning about 10:30! That little girl sure is entertaining – both to herself and to us. She was doing somersaults into the shrubbery! What a cutie she is. Thank you very much to whoever was doing the camera work. Love it when we get to see our little girl being so happy.
2 more videos for your SDZ panda viewing pleasure!!
The first is from this morning! Bai was eating her morning boo when Yun Zi “attacked” her from above, over and over again!! This cub has some moves, lol!!
2010-05-18 Yun Zi: Tiny Terror from Above!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rGAxt0wS7M
The 2nd is a compilation of scenes from the past month where all our young pandas are playing with enrichment items! You’ll see Yun Zi with a ball, Zhennie with a box filled with shredded paper and Su Lin with an assortment of oddly shaped items!
2010-05-18 Yun Zi, Zhen and Su Lin ~ Enrichment!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i25neIrs6aw
Dianna #104, I have the footage from this afternoon also, so perhaps I’ll be doing another video? And thank you all for your kind comments about the previous videos. Each and every one I’ve done is a labor of love for this beloved panda family.
Thank you for the update of Yun Zi who is in 1st grade. Wow little Yun Zi in first grade already.
#102, Oh, that is sweet Grammmie. I think he is trying to encourage me to get to those crunches. Sometimes, it looks like Yun Zi has blue eyes. It is really wild. Yun Zi acts more and more like his dad everyday. I saw Yun Zi trying to haul up the tree a big piece of bamboo stalk. Mr. Gao was sitting there a few minutes ago with a piece of bamboo stalk. They are so much alike.
Dennis & Lynn Carney, I am so happy Lynn will be closer to you. That is great news!
Lucilla, what a sweet story! I like that your stories are always sweet and have sweet endings. It is delightful to read your stories. These are the stories little boys and girls could grow up hearing. Nice, very nice!!! Romances are always in fashion, I think.
Panda Fans!! DoxiMom has two new videos which she placed on You Tube today!!!! Just go to date added and get ready for pure panda pleasure
Thank You, DoxiMom!!!
Lucilla #83: You have a fantastic imagination!!! Thank You for writing
113# DoxieMom, thank you for the wild videos, my favorite is “Tiny Terror from above”. Yun Zi is a lil trouble maker. B-) Bai Yun is such a beautiful patient mother. Bai Yun got a pack of trouble on her head.
He makes such a fashionable hat! He makes such a fashion statement. Panda Fashions: Wear the latest hat:the cub, don’t feel like spending money on regular hats wear your cub! B-) 
‘Calling Dr Yun Zi, Dr Yun Zi to Emergency.’
‘Yikes, gotta go,’ as Yun Zi drowns that last bit of coffee and wolfs down a piece of apple cake before dashing down the corridor. It will probably be many hours before he gets to eat again.
He arrives at Emergency, ‘Get me up to speed, please!’
Dr Ling Pin hands him a folder,’A young panda cub climbed too high and fell, We fear there is a blood clot in his frontal lob.’
‘What are our options?’
‘I paged for you as I think our best option is to operate and remove the pressure on the brain due to the growing clot. And you are our best neuro-surgeon.’
‘Hardly, Dr Ping. I will do my best. Let’s prep for surgery. Will you assist me? Thanks. Are his parents here? I better have a word with them.’ Dr Yun Zi goes to comfort the sobbing Mama and gives her a hug before he goes into the operating theatre.
As he makes the incision, he peers into the cranium cavity. Above him, many housemen panda doctors were observing his every move. He was acknowledged as one of the best neurosurgeons in Panda Land.
‘Ah, see that. That is the clot. Let’s drain it.’
The rest of the operation goes smoothly. As he sews up the cubby, Dr Yun Zi allows himself one of his famous grins, ‘Whew, thank goodness, it could have been worse.’
As he exits the operating theatre, he goes to reassure the panda mama that her cubby will be fine but no climbing for at least a few months.
‘Thank you, Dr Yun Zi! How can I ever repay you?’
‘No need, no need, just the thought that your cubby, Bao Beh, is better and will most likely live a long life, makes this all worth while.’
‘I’ll name my next cubby after you!’
‘No need, no need. My Mama says one Yun Zi is more than the world can handle, Hee Hee,’ he grins.
With that, he trots off to get a bamboo shake at the cafeteria as a reward.
Wonderful videos DoxieMom…….nice to see them playing for a change.
I wonder if Yun Zi plays at nite because there is no outside noise, narrators & tourists staring at them…….they like the privacy at nite to act stupid and fun.
Hi DoxieMom: I’m always watching anxiously for your next video and have enjoyed every single one. But the latest “Tiny Terror from Above” just really tickled my funny bone. Had a great laugh!! Thanks ever so much as usual. Hugs.
I enjoyed Doximom’s videos. I don’t think Yun Zi would get away with so much, except that Bai Yun is way into her food.
Lucilla has me thinking about romances. I guess there are many types of romances, including panda romances, Bai Yun and Mr. Gao being one that comes to mind. I think a man standing by his wife through thick and thin would also qualify as a romance. I have heard of women standing by their man, but my hat is off to Dennis for standing by his wife through thick and thin. By the Grace of God, things will get better and better for you two.
DoxieMom — Thank You! How adorable Yun Zi is and how patient Beautiful Bai is with her cub. Just loved the attack from above laughing out loud all the while.
#115- Gabrielle – I also think Yun Zi’s eyes look blue sometimes! I said that awhile ago in a blog. Does he have a rim around his eye that has a blueish tint? He is so adorable. I witnessed the him this morning crawling all over mom’s head while she was eating. It is so funny how it does not even faze her. When she is eating, little seems to distract her. Zhennie is so funny to watch, I just love her. I wish I knew of the cam when she was a baby. I wonder if Yunior will have her acrobatic skills when he gets bigger, he seems to be developing some.
Moderator – is our little prince due for any full check ups anytime soon? What about the other bears? how often are they examined by a vet? I was just curious. They all seem to be healthy and happy bears. Do you only examine or do bloodwork on the adult bears if they seem to need it? Also, does Yun Zi have a blueish tint in his eyes somewhere? Thanks so much for all you guys do there and keeping us so informed on these wonderful animals!
Moderator’s note: I haven’t heard when Yun Zi might get his next check-up, but our other pandas get yearly physicals, and any panda preparing to move to China gets a pre-shipment physical. Of course, if keepers suspect any illness, exams and blood/stool samples are done.
#113 DOXIEMOM I think your Yunior wanted to be a stylish Hat for his mommy again—I will watch the other video later.
#116 BOBBIE WOOD When will you be visiting the zoo again so we can have a live video view of little Yun Zi????? I always love the music you pick to go with yours.
TO ALL OF YOU WHO POINT OUT the good places to look for photos, videos, etc. What would we ever do without you??????……..Love Grammmie
awwwww he is just growing soo big thease days and there was a glich some where because i havent been able to get on for days and the entire weekend soooo something happend but looks like everything is fine now so thats good
Moderator’s note: There was indeed a glitch over the weekend–even I couldn’t access the blogs!
Wow, Zhen is so so so active, I love her. Every panda girl is different: Su lin and Mei lan are like princess, and zhen and lin ping are nauty kids, all making us happy. But zhen zhen is special to me, I have watched her antics so many times through youtube, look at her wide and a little bit shorter face, sharp chin, big eyes, how comic girl. Thanks Rita’s pics, whenever I recalled zhen’s staring at a squirrel, and her fighting with a big bamboo with two hands, I feel happy.
Wake Up Yunnie! You are now talking in your sleep!
What was I saying?
You were asking for scapels and sutures. Were you dreaming again?
Hee Hee, Mama, I dreamt I was a doctor and a surgeon.
Goodness me, who would have thought that. Do you want to be one?
It would be nice to be able to help people especially Mamas who have sick children.
Gosh, that is nice of you. You must study hard then.
Yes, I know, sigh!
You have many years to go. You are just in Kindergarten learning about Apples and Bamboo.
Hee Hee, one thing I will always be is my Mama’s Baby!
Yes, that you will be. Time to try some boo, son.
OK, Mama.
OUR LITTLE PRINCE HAS DONE IT AGAIN. 30 minutes ago Momma Bai tried to wake him up-or wanted to cuddle-so she put her head into his hammock with him—–she waited patiently until she fell asleep…..he has not moved a muscle. So there she stands sleeping on the back of the “Stone Throne”, while he comfortably slumbers…..Love Grammmie
I FINALLY GOT TO WATCH DOXIEMOM’S second video….my question is this…..Who will have to tell our Su Lin and ZZ that they are no longer toddlers so they may not participate in the Pandalymics Summer Games Pool Surfing Event??? Cubs and Cubettes only, unweaned, are eligible. They did seem to want to practice, but their baby brother is much better at it already. Their beauty and grace will get them their gold medals, and nobody stomps trees like they do. ZZ’s Tree Aerobics at the talk of the town, and Su—-well Su will be quick on her feetsies, the boys will all be running after her…..Love Grammmie
Cute babies: TianTian and LongLong:
http://v.ku6.com/show/FgA6xcuDLFydWcC3.html
What a difference a day makes, Yunny. So polite you have looked for the last hour- 3:15-4:15 am, munching a bunch way, way down in the left corner of the cam screen. You are off the short list (for the time being) of “total ‘pandamonium’- we need to talk” … Try to have a sweet day.
National treasures: Wild pandas in QinLin
http://v.ku6.com/show/K_j-fcAYAkWQwYp2.html
http://v.ku6.com/show/KAxjSRFWm5Mb5tQT.html
http://v.ku6.com/show/Jt6iS8gr6VDmy07h.html
Return to the forest:—A XiangXiang’s story:
http://v.ku6.com/show/Noptp4rWFqO8porM.html
To Laura#17- Thank you for the wonderful compliment. I have had several people approach me with the same idea. You never know, maybe one of these days…..
GOOD MORNING PANDA NUTS–HEY I AM ONE OF YOU. Rita Petita has 2 new ZZ photos up on her Flikr page. One shows the prespective from where it was taken, the other is closer and cropped. To me it looks like somebody turned her loose in a forest, there in all her primitive glory. She even describes the site in words for those familiar with the Panda Exhibit at the Zoo. Enjoy….Love Grammmie
Here is her Flikr lilnk in case you do not have it handy… http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/
EVERYBODY HUG GAO GAO—I understand he does not enjoy the ground shaking, and we just had some a few minutes ago. Right now I am awaiting a USGS update for Magnatude and Location. If you are curious just check on this page…. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqscanv/
…….click on the closest area for more information. Newest information comes up about 5 minutes after you feel it…..and the written page will tell you how close it is to San Diego. If they do not mention SD just add 10 to 20 miles from Tijuana, Northward.
It was a 4.1 at 7.39 a. m. Local Pacific time. If you would like a world view just find the worldwide map on upper left area on page-under PRESENT click to go there. It is listed under “resent”. Bai Yun is moving around calmly as seems fine.
The Video in the comment way back up at the top is not Yun Zi trying to bother Bai while she tries to eat and drink. He is taking Drama 101 class and is just playing the part of a Hat and a Shawl. Bai is just a prop…..Love Grammmie
Tiny Terror was a good video!! Yunnie was so bad!!! Does Bai ever give him a good swat?
I’ve watched Mommie Monster lay down on her back when Xi would crawl around on her head… Must be a boy thing!
Does DoxieMom have the footage of Zhennie standing in her drinker?
Question to all the the Pandaholics who’ve watched all of Bai’s babies… Is Zhennie the most active? It seems like she is always running here or there or putting stuff on her head or hanging upside down…
Dennis & Lynn, all the best for Lynn’s imminent homecoming.
Lucilla, I know it’s been mentioned before, but you really must put all these stories in a book. They would make a delightful childrens’ book and I know many of us grown-ups would adore it too.
Thank goodness you caught ZZ’s playtime yesterday, DoxieMom. That was the bit I missed.
Don’t miss today’s Panda Cub Updates on the Atlanta zoo’s website. It is about the hammock being back up. Xi Lan showed much interest, but did not managed to pull up his bamboo with him. He most probably remembers his mommy eating her bamboo in there when he was little. But he still enjoys sleeping on the top log of the hammock structure, just as he did when he was still with his mommy.
The funny part is that his mommy was not interested in the hammock until some bamboo shoots were placed in it and prompt her to climb in the hammock to eat the treats. Perhaps, in her mind, the hammock is connected to having a cub, since she enjoyed so much nursing her cubs in the hammock and now she is enjoying her “me” time…
But for some reason, I can not get the Atlanta Zoo’s pandacam working today.
I commend Doxie Mom for making my day on so many occasions. Thank you for bringing to us these visual images of Bai and Yun Zi. On May 14 I had the chance to visit the Zoo, and wandered into the exhibit area where Zhen Zhen is on display. I have seen pandas on many occasions, but never have I seen anything to equal this visit. For 45 minutes
z
Oh dear–the cam page is not loading. I hope the tremors haven’t caused an outage or damage to the area.
Doxie Mom, thank you for so often making my day. Although I live in San Diego, I can’t be at the Zoo every day, so your video clips are a joyful reminder of just how wonderful the pandas are. Last Friday (May 14) I had an out-of-town visitor, so we went to the Zoo. We wandered into the area where Zhen Zhen was on display. It is unfortunate that the panda cam was not focused on her at this time. Of the many times I have observed pandas, I have seen nothing like Zhen on this day. For 45 minutes, she was on a tear! There was a gunny sack in the exhibit, and one of her antics was to grab it and jump up and down in place, throwing the sack into the air. At one point she rushed up her tree, grasped a fragile limb with her paws, and attached her feet to another one below it, spanning an area of open space between them. From this position she shook the entire tree. At another point Zhen went out to the end of two limbs that had been pruned, and bounced up and down on them, then sommersaulted into the fork of these two limbs and slid quickly to the ground. On two or three occasions she laid down on the edge of her pool, rolled over into the water, then stood up, jumped up and down, and took off on a run around the exhibit. I have never seen a panda run as fast as I saw at this time. Her climbing and descending of the tree in her exhibit were at top speed. At the end she was panting, and went up her tree for a nap. I hope my words adequately convey some of the antics of this beautiful panda. Hopefully, someone who was there will come forward with a video tape of this amazing scene (Damn, this was one of the few days that I left my camcorder at home!). We just never know what we might see when we visit the zoo, but experiences like this makes it easy to understand why the pandas are the zoo’s greatest attraction.
I mentioned awhile back that I’ve been doing more short videos and putting them out on Flickr. (I post all my Flickr and YouTube video links on the Panda-fandom Worldwide Facebook page, also.) These are 1 1/2 minutes or less, and usually capture some sweet, close-up Yun Zi moments, footage I hate to delete. Here are some recent ones:
5-13-2010 Yun Zi tackles Big Boo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandalover19/4612794024/
5-13-2010 Yoohoo, Mommie!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandalover19/4617163460/
5-14-2010 Where’s Yun Zi?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandalover19/4615166895/
5-14-2010 Boo Baby, Yun Zi!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandalover19/4618720631/
5-16-2010 Peek-a-boo Yun Zi!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandalover19/4612926189/
Thank you all for your comments regarding the “Tiny Terror”. And thank you to the Keeper (?) that was manning the camera around 7:50 AM yesterday morning! Good job following the little monkey
Whew–it’s back and all looks well.
Thank you, Lucilla, for another exciting adventure in Yun Zi-land!
And thank you, Rita Petita, for discovering why Zhen Zhen goes to that spot in the trees. She’s scouting for her adoring public (or her food)!
Linda luvs pandas, I was looking at an up close picture of Yun Zi last night. I think the rim, around Yun Zi’s eyes, is lighter skin. I think that is what makes Yun Zi’s eyes look blue now. Yun Zi’s eyes looked blue, to me, when he was a baby cub. I don’t know if panda baby cubs have blue eyes like human babies and cats. Zhen Zhen, in her pictures, looked like she had blue eyes as well when she was younger. Anyway, Zhen Zhen sure is a beautiful panda girl way up in the tree, Su Lin too.
Grammmie, hi, thanks for the links. I really like the picture of Zhen Zhen in the tree. I am glad the recent earthquake was not much.
Doxiemom, I adore the video of Yun Zi climbing on his mom’s head. Yun Zi and Bai Yun sure are a pair! They are a comedy show all their own.
Keeper Kathy Hawk, I enjoyed seeing you holding Yun Zi when he was a baby cub. Once, you picked Yun Zi up just like he was a baby. That really touched my heart. What a treat for all the keepers and vets who got to hold Yun Zi.
One more Yun Zi short video from today:
5-19-2010 Yun Zi, the Pool and Toys!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandalover19/4621901045/
question: Why does Bai prefer to sleep on top of the tunnel using it for her pillow instead of perhaps sleeping on the ground or in a tree as Yunior does? It is so funny to log on and see her sleeping on the rock. My sister and I make up our own comments about what is going on and send them to each in the pictures! Go Web cam!!!!
It seems Yun Zi is little too big for his hammock? Bai Yun just got up from her sleep and left the stone platform. Yun Zi immediately slid down to where she was and started his ‘lounging’ and playing. It is just so sweet to watch this pair. Thank you for this panda cam SDZ!!
MC IN SHANGHAI Thank you so much for all of the links. When things quiet down I will give myself a break and watch/see them. If anything like the ones you usually send I am in for a big treat. Rita Petita does not always have time to read the comments here….so I am sending her the links you sent, copies of stories folks write, etc. That way she gets to enjoy them but still has time to photograph pandas, take care of her cats, and work too.
#143 DON I hate to tell you this, but there is a 15 yard penalty for forgetting your video cam….do it again and you are suspended for the next game.
I have seen some of ZZ’s antics on the panda-cam—but I imagine that is nothing compared to being there in person. The zoo used to rent photo equipment years ago, when they we less complicated, I do not know about now, but were I you I would look into it. The only other thing I can think of is to make quick friends with somebody there with their video stuff at the same time and have them send a copy to you via computer.
Everybody who sends videos, links to photos stories etc….thank you so much….you brighten every day…..Love Grammmie
Moderator’s note: You’re right, we no longer rent photo equipment.
#143 Don – Thank you so much for your lively description of our zoom zoom Zhen Zhen, I felt I was watching her as I read it.
#150 Faye – My theory is that when the sun is out in the afternoon, it is getting too hot in the hammock for Yun Zi, and he likes to get just under the hammock which then serves the purpose of a parasol…
DoxiMom #’s 144 and 148: I can sure see why you shared
I giggled at each and every one!!! The one with Yun Zi balancing the thin bamboo stick and then kicking it cracked me up. He always seems so surprised when an object of his attention moves away 
(Including his Momma) I loved the pool segment!
Bai made Yun Zi move over in that one
Grammie: I hope to get down to the SDZ in the next week or so….Keep your fingers crossed and hope that I will find the Bamboo Bears awake
Don #143: Okaaay, we will forgive you for your May 14th mental lapse when you forgot your camera!!! However, I am certain Zhennie will put on a show the next time you visit; therefore….Don’t forget!!!
FOOT PARTY ALERT-HE IS AT IT AGAIN. MOM IS EATING HER DINNER, WHILE YUNIOR EATS HIS FEET ON THE “STONE THRONE”—–WHAT A BOY….LOVE GRAMMMIE
#149 CINDY IN KC where is BRUCE IN KC????? It sounds like you guys have lots of fun—and that is great, but we need to hear from Bruce about Project Bamboo 15 an all Panda crew flying a shuttle mission into space. The blog was not able to be used over the weekend, and we have not heard from him. If you happen to see him please tell him we need more photos and documents…..Love Grammmie
Don–that must have been one amazing day at the Zoo! I’ve certainly seen Zhennie racing around–that’s why we call her Zoomie– and shaking the trees, but I’ve never seen the jumping up and down part. She’s one amazing beautiful panda girl!
I was just watching the Lin Ping Daily Hi-Light#3-180510 and laughing. CK is trying to get her to go outside and she doesn’t want to so she’s doing all these stubborn moves. He’s laughing, its cute. It totally reminded me of a little kid when they don’t want to be picked up, how they make themselves all heavy. Know what I mean? Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8toX5qETl3o
Just loved the short videos of his current actions……seems more playful now than before.
Thank you DoxieMom!
Thank-You Doxiemom for the adventures of Popeye the Sailor Man’s Replacement …..”Yunior the Sailor Man…..LOL…..He lives in the Zoo,now munches Bamboo,he’s Yunior the Sailor Man….Toot Toot…. LOL…. That combined with the Yunior copy of Snoopy the Beagle as the Vulture attacking mom Bai Yun from above definitely made my day…….
I also agree with the comments from others that Kathy Hawk would have a NY Times Best Seller if she ever puts pen to paper and writes about her encounters with the Shi Shi / Bai Yun /Gao Gao and their lovely offspring as every time we come to the SDZ and before Lynn was confined to a wheelchair we were always happy to have encounters with the Bears and conversations with you….As I wait for Lynn to be released from the Hospital after 17 monthes we look forward to her follow up SoCal Doctors Appointments so that we can see Lin Lin before she departs and the newest Superstar “Yunior” hopefully before he turns 1 year old…..
” Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things……”
OK everyone lets throw roses, unfurl streamers and lift DOXIEMOM up on her bejeweled chair as we parade her around the zoo as the Premier Videographer!!! Great, great job as usual. Thanks SO much.
Oh lets have a second chair for Rita’s photos!! They are awesome!
Grammie – thanks for all the links to Rita’s great photos, she is great. What beautiful pictures of Zhennie, she is so cute. I think she gives our little prince a run for his money in the cute category. She is quite the show person. I wonder, does she like back scratches too? She seems like she would not even sit still for them. What a doll!
Doxiemom – great clips of our little guy, he needs to stop biting Bai’s cute Minnie mouse ears. It is a wonder she does not swat him. I assume he is play biting like my cat does although sometimes he breaks skin. I bet keeper Kathy misses the days when he was small enough to hold like a baby as mentioned above. Su Lin and Gao seem so laid back. Is the hearing study still going on with both of them? Moderator thanks for the quick replies to our questions above. I was just curious about the exams, one can see these are happy and healthy bears.
Still no sight sweeter than Bai Yun nursing a cub…
My baby fluffy butt, is sure growing up, the last few times I viewed he was at least playing with a branch of boo, and taking it up with him to “his hammock”. What a little man!
JUST CHECKING IN TO RITA PETITA’S FLIKR page to find 4 s clouds together photos. I do not if more will go up tonight, but i do not PLAN to send anymore notes tonight. In cass I sleep in late I wanted everybody to have a chance to see them early…..Love Grammmie
Here is thelink in case you do not have it handy…..
http://www.flickr (dot) com/photos/ritapetita/
To repair the link remove spaces and (dot) and replace with a period.
# 144DoxieMom : Thank you for all these videos !I really miss the little boy.
# 151Grammmie :I found another documentary about WuLong .Hua Mei’s beautiful baby appeared in the it.
v(dot)ku6(dot)com/show/iDr-530JFfE19De0(dot)html
This is the link to part one
The legend of panda —part 8:
v(dot)ku6(dot)com/show/2j0_a7pnoqNsX9-n(dot)html
Ummm, I would like to volunteer to be a Yun Zi play toy please!! Heeheehee
Thank you for the enjoyable article Keeper Kathy. Will Yun Zi have a single trainer when the time is right, or is that done on a rotating basis?
Other than hopes for Austria and Australia, it is looking like we aren’t going to have any new cubbies this year. That being said, here is one of my favorite YouTube videos. You might want to turn the audio up a bit so as not to miss even one precious little squeak. Have a wonderful day folks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDTPOkPhqe4&feature=related
‘Inspector, Inspector! Over here.’
Inspector Gao Yun Zi trots over quickly, driven by the urgency in the voice. Once again he was roused from his deep sleep at his batchelor den, ‘just once, just once,’ he thought, ‘why can’t it be good news?’
And he arrived at the spot in the dark alley, even a veteran like he recoiled at the horrific sight. Someone had nailed a huge panda stuffie to the wall. Above it, sprayed in neon lettering was this threat, ‘YOU WILL BE NEXT, INSP YUNNIE!’ And the stuffie was dripping in red paint that made it look like it had been cut open.
‘How did this perp know my childhood nickname?’ thought Inspector Gao YZ, ‘hmmm, the mystery thickens.’
‘Who discovered this?’ he demanded in his commanding baritone.
‘I did,’ replied a sweet voice coming from a tired looking waitress, ‘I was coming off my shift and I came into the alley to dump some garbage…that’s when I saw…I thought it was a real dead body so I screamed…’
‘What’s your name, miss? And is this your normal routine?’
‘My name is Mei Yun. I work at La Chez Blanc et Noir to help pay for my tuition fees and I have been doing so for the last 3 months. I help take out the garbage every night,’ whispered a cute, winsome lady panda.
‘What’s her day off?’ wondered Inspector Gao privately, ‘Does she like police pandas?’
‘So the perp may have known that and wanted this discovered as soon as possible. Hmmm…’
‘Inspector Gao, is the message directed at you?’ asked Detective Lin Ping.
‘Yes. Yunnie is my childhood nickname remember cousin Lin Ping?’
‘Oh yes, in your childhood home of San Diego. The hoomans there gave it to you. Now who would…?’
At that moment, a knife whistled through the air, aimed straight and true for Gao Yun Zi.
And Inspector Yunnie’s quick reflexes enabled him to catch it between his teeth. As he spat it out, a large paw bats him on the back…..
‘AHHHHHH, you scared me, Mama! Don’t sneak up on me like that!’
‘My dear mini muffin, there are only 2 of us here, ok, there are some hoomans as well, but just the two of us in this enclosure….why are you frightened? What’s wrong?’
‘Nope, nothing! I am the Son of Gao, I am afraid of NO ONE! Yeah! I am stwong, I am pawwerful, I am Yunnie, Yeah! I just had a dream, that’s all.’
‘Another dream? Never mind, you can tell me about it later! Remember this, you will always be my precious cubbie,’ Bai gives him a tight squeeze.
‘And the tough and pawwerful Son of Gao will always have time for huggies from Mama! Hee Hee!’
This article explains on China plans on releasing pandas into the wild
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-05/20/content_9870044.htm
Marie #157: THANK YOU for the LP video. She’s pretty smart.. her thought process went something like this: “I’ll be cute and do my little dance against the post and he’ll leave me here and if that doesn’t work I will play “dead weight” when CK tries to carry me and I will ooze out of his arms and upside down, I will grab him by the leg so he can’t pick me up again. And if he’s REALLY persistant then he’ll just have to go in first and pull me through the door”…
She is SO ornery!! What are they going to do when she’s as big as Daddy Zhuang and she doesn’t want to shift out to her exhibit? CK looks like he has some muscle tone but I just don’t know that will be enough!!
Poor LP… She just must be having a bad day.. Even Mom LH pushed her off the deck when she was trying to eat her boo and LP was being a pest… LP even had a pouty look on her face..
#118, 170 – Lucilla, Bravo!
#169 Tina – Dont forget about Lun Lun. On May 5th, the zoo posted that they expect her cycle in the coming weeks. So there’s still hope! She’s had two so why not a third?
#170 Lucilla, please could you get Inspector Yun Zi to continue his investigation? I must know whodunnit!
Char # 160: I agree with you 100% !!!! DoxiMom has given so much time, effort, dedication by her creating
videos of the pandas! We are so blessed by her work!!!
Thank you everyone for all your wonderful comments on my photos. Grammie, my VP of PR has been sening me copies of your comments. The secret to great photos is to love your subject, and I love my subjects beyond what words could describe. However, in Nekomama’s case, her secret to Great Gao Gao photos is that he loves her more than me. But he is the Stud Muffin so I can live with that.
DoxiieMom thanks for the great videos and the time you spend to get them to us.
Lucilla, I am so happy that Yun Zi has awakened your creative side. These pandas are sneaky, they make us do things we did not know we could do.
#153 BOBBIE WOODS I will be waiting for more videos and great music.
#157 MARIE The CK is looking cuter than ever. If he keeps lilfting her he is going to hurt his back. Momma wants to be left alone with her bamboo. Lin Ping must have seen the Yun Zi “be a hat” video.
#159 DENNIS AND LYNN CARNEY I think we all are hoping for the best for you two. It will be great when life returns to something more normal…..I will be happy to hear you made to SDZ.
#160 & #161 CHAR Gtand Idea….should we have a marching band too, if they play softly near the Pandas????
#167, 168 MC IN SHANGHAI Thank you so much MC—I am going to watch them as I eat my breakfast omlette.
#169 TINY Adorable video…how did you find it?????
#170 LUCILLLA You have struck gold or oil or diamonds again. Love the imagination of our Yunior. He dreams movies like I do.
#171 MAUREEN GOOD ARTICLE, Thank you for sharing it…..Love Grammmie
Camera Operators many thanks for the adventures of ZZ as she tore around her enclosure today up and down the trees and climbing structures,she is a lot of fun to watch on my day off…..Lin Lin looks more like her mom as she sits and eats her bamboo……Also loved the adventures of Yunior as he brought some boo up into the hammock to play with and eat earlier today,he sure is growing up fast….It sure is great being a Pandaholic and watching our favorite Pandas along with our growing Global Panda Fans,Family and Friends that share all of our sites ,pictures and videos…. Who would hav ever thought that our Black and White Ambassadors could bring so much enjoyment to so many…..Again maybe we should send Panda Cams from around the World to the UN General Assembly as maybe we could achieve Peace thru Pandas….
Still hour to hour as to when Lynn will be released to a Hospital closer to home or to our apartment that she has never seen,,,,Will keep you posted on her release when it happens….At least I only have to work a 1/2 day tom’w. so I get to spend more time watching the Pandas as they are a calming influence on my chaotic life…..
” Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things……. ”
Just a note to the moderator:
Has SDZ ever thought about letting panda fans cuddle a baby panda (for a modest fee) like they do in China? It would raise a lot of money for conservation and research and everyday maintenance!
I know in China they give you a paper gown, gloves and shoe booties and the pandas are protected from any potential problems from us, and they charge about $100 for 5 mins. I’m sure I speak for all of the SDZ panda fans who would pay money to be able to cuddle and love an animal for even a few minutes, that is as mysterious as a unicorn. I know I would and it’s on my “bucket list” to hug a panda on this earth before I leave it.
I’ve really enjoyed all of the blogs that panda fans have written and the videos! They are wonderful to watch!
Any thoughts about this anyone?
Moderator’s note: Here in the United States we have a variety of legal statutes and endangered animal policies which we all work under which discourages this type of interaction with the bears.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Pandas live on has a great article about releasing them into the wild…..Love Grammmie
To get to ” Pandas On Life ” blog just tpye those 3 words into your address bar.
Dear Friends (Grammmie, Susan, Bobbi, P Wong etc),
Thanks once again for the kind words of encouragement. I think seeing the many photos which show the different sides of Yun Zi’s personality has triggered off the creative juices. And the funny thing is I can ‘see’ him in my mind’s eye in a surgeon’s scrubs, a suit with a trench coat, or a tux looking like James Bond….and he looks like he would enjoy the adventures I am thinking up for him, hee hee.
No 173 – Mr Wong, am waiting further conversations between the tourist and Mr Gao. I love your characterization of the elder Gao.
No 177 – Yes, I agree ‘Aunt Mollie’ cos as a amateur photog myself I know one needs to be inspired by one’s subject matter and I can see the SDZ pandas are your muse.
Have a great Pandalicious Weekend,
Lucilla
I am so looking forward to my summer break! I will be in S.D. June 13 and plan to spend the day at the Zoo. I was wondering how Yun Zi is doing with his schedule and when would be a good time to capture some Kodak moments??? I know these things are unpredictable, but wonder if a ‘schedule’ is somewhat steady with Yun Zi?
#123 Linda luvs pandas
Vets and keeper staff decided to end the weekly exams for our boy awhile ago, mainly because he was getting too big to handle safely. We do, when opportunity arises, try to get weights on him, but that depends on whether he wants to come out of the trees and shift into the bedroom.
I see what you are saying about the blue rim around his eyes; it is there and seems more pronounced when the sun hits his eyes. I speculate that it could be a juvenile trait and may possibly disappear when he matures, as the others do not have that color.
Hey a ZZ question, today I see what looks like sniffing, but the longer I watch she is hanging her head (normal) but still breathing alot of short breaths and has anyone seen this as normal??? I dont know never seen them do that I KNOW we are always watching our SDZ bears if she is coughing……
Oh I forgot, Ms. Hawk yes I noticed the blue eyes on him long ago, and when I bought a stuffed panda I wished it had the blue eye rim also, but it had brown eyes, and I only imagine its Yunior….. I also thought that like some kitties, their eyes look blue when tiny…….I don’t notice other babies that close….but Yunior had blue eyes check out his close up baby exams LOVE YA pandas and panda people, bye
thease pandas are so cute and a very itresting article
#183 LUCILLA I asked him, and he is enjoying all of his adventures with you. He says if you can rig him a momma milk bar he would be happy to live with you and continue to help you send him to countries and adventures around the world. He has had a quick read of the newest post and would like to be an Educator for Planetary Conservation. As an endangered and endearing species he thinks he may be best equipped to move more folks to hug some trees, if he goes out to hug them. However he loves his momma, unless you can come up with a perfect duplicate for a milk bar and monkey bars, trampoline, etc. no deal…he will have to stay with her for a bit longer. Besides how would the keeper nannies know how to clean their enclosure without him there to supervise, and/or help?????? He knows he is needed by everybody, but he is just to little to stretch far enough….he will chat with you online or on skype when they leave the lights on inside at night…..Love Grammmie and Prince Fluffy-Butt
#195 GREAT KEEPER KATHY HAWK Don’t you think that on the fifth cub around that Bai Yun should know that as he gets to a certain size that she should start taking him into the bedroom with her so she can get to her lunch, ect. faster??? By then she surely knows he his getting some of those snackies down before she can get out with her vaccuum snout to get them???? (We have seen how fast she can make them disappear.) Think about lightening your load by having an experienced mother take care of where he needs to be–she rules with a iron fist when need be……..Love Grammmie
hi pandas! I have loved you all since I was born. My Uncle Pat gave me my 1st bear, when I was only 1 day old. I feel I know you, & think that if you had your own bears to love & cuddle with that you might feel the same way that I always have…Loved! Pandas are a unique & beautiful people. Yes, I do mean people. They bring such joy & peace to everyone, and I believe that they can feel that too. Therefore, my suggestion to the wonderful people who have the opportunity to be with them-and they are the lucky few-is to just love them, treat them like they deserve, and give them something to love back. Panda Bears for Everyone! With All My Love Forever Laurie
Interesting! I hope that everyone has a nice Memorial Day.
Got to see Junior today and he was “sort of” awake, but Bai was way asleep each time I went thru the line, he is a hand full when he is awake, and CUTE PANDA HAT MS. Moderator !
But ZZ was running around, climbing up to a very top branch, bouncing on the branch, and almost looked like she would take a flying leap from it, but thank goodness she never jumped, then it was just in time for her treats and to go back in at 2:30. Great Day Thanks
NOW HEAR THIS—PARTY GIRL, ZHEN ZHEN, put on quite a show for the folks today, and Rita Petita was there to get the action documented. She has put up one excellent photo so far, and all of you should scamper on over to see it. Here is the magical link to get you there in a jiffy….. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/
Be sure to check back often to see what our bears are up to next…….Love Grammmie
I can’t believe how cute he’s gotten. I’ve been watching him since he was a pink lil one, sending myself postcards while he grows and now he’s already in kindergarden. wow, I’m so glad you have the panda cam. thank you too the staff for doing a great job! Love it
#185 DORIS In case you do not know…..once you click on the “send postcard”, and get to the next page all you need do is use your “save picture as” feature to save it to your picture files. If you are not sure of those options get somebody to show you how to use them….a neighbor, co-worker, friend or relative…..Love Grammmie
Interesting!