Come see Yun Zi during this sleepover for panda fans!
This will be an ADULTS ONLY (21+) sleepover, and there’s lots of great stuff planned. Of course, our focus will be the giant pandas—in fact, three of our pandas have August birthdays, and Hua Mei’s birthday IS August 21 (she’ll be 11 years old), so I think we have a lot to celebrate!
We’ll have one of our panda researchers give an evening talk, and we’ll set up an exclusive pre-opening morning visit to the pandas with a keeper, but there’s more to it….We’ve enlisted Dr. Zoolittle, our physician of fun, to entertain us and test your panda knowledge, we’ll visit other black and white animals, including the opportunity of getting up close and personal with a zebra, and our educators will spend the evening with you, leading a nighttime prowl and introducing you to other black and white animals in an intimate setting where you can ask questions and even pet some of them!
Of course there is food and drink, too: a dinner buffet at the campgrounds with beer and wine, and one of my favorite parts, the wonderful breakfast! We’ve arranged for a private breakfast at Sabertooth Grill, which overlooks Elephant Odyssey, where just our group can relax and enjoy a hot breakfast buffet while watching the elephants wander by. There’s more in store, but I’ll save a few surprises.
I hope there are others as excited as I am. I would love to hear if you’re interested. This will be a unique and fun experience, sleeping in the tents (provided) at the zoo’s Camp Timbuktu campground, and, I hope, learning something new in a program geared toward adults. I’ll post more details as we get closer, but I sense this will sell out fast, so don’t forget to go online and book the weekend! (Remember this is 21+ only).
Silvan Davidson is an education specialist at the San Diego Zoo.
Here’s more information about the Black & White Overnight…
To make reservations, please call 619-718-3000 or 800-407-9534.
Update: New images of Yun Zi and his toys have been added to the Panda Photo Gallery!
That sounds like fun and I wish I could get that as an August Birthday gift for myself (August 18 is my day)
Moderator’s note: That would be such a fun way to celebrate, Deborah! We hope you can come.
OMG, this would be SO FUN! August 21 was my mom’s birthday–she would have been 52 this year. Obviously that means it’s time for me to fly out to SD for a party, right???
(goes to look for plane tickets…)
Moderator’s note: Absolutely!!
i watch all your bears, ofcourse yun zi is the cute one. he is such a” rolly polly” with the bamboo, etc. i also see gao in the small room, i just wondered it he gets to go outside? i check the bears everyday they are interesting to watch.
Moderator’s note: Yes, Gao Gao has daily access to his outdoor area, his sunroom, and his bedroom.
count me in!!!
Sounds like a fabulous fun event. Wish I lived closer.
I couldn’t believe how big Yun Zi has gotten when I saw him sleeping on top of the cave yesterday. He is obviously well fed. I will always carry my mental picture of him exploring the pond for the first time when we visited in January.
Have a safe, restful holiday weekend everyone.
i will definitely make the trip from Seattle! Sounds like fun and I get to wish the pandas when I see them. Thanks!
Thanks for the info Silvan. Teri #2, I think this would be an excellent way to celebrate and honor your mom’s birthday. It will be such a memorable and fun experience. If I did not already have plans for that day, I’d be there too.
Is there a deadline to make reservations? I was planning on a SDZ vacation in Sept, but could move it up to August… You mentioned that it could “sell out”… is there a limit of people for this outing? Thank You!
Moderator’s note: The campground has limited availability.
OMG…How I wish my daughter and I could come. We live too far and wish we could afford to come. Maybe I will win the lottery tonight. Oh I hope so.
This sounds so awesome. I will be thinking of all the lucky people sleeping out overnight and sneaking through the zoo to check out all the black and whites. Especially beloved Yun Zi and his mama.
Sounds like fun fun fun!
IF ANY ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING GAO GAO SHOWN IN PLACES OTHER THAN HIS BEDROOM THERE ARE LOTS
to see at this link…..Rita Petita has caught him in many great places and poses. When the camera goes to him in the late afternoon he is, out of habit, doing his favorite thing in his favorite place—-eating Bamboo in his Bedroom. He needs his strength and rest for his meeting with his Love- Bai Yun every two years, or we would not have a full house and all of these cubs to watch grow….Love Grammmie
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Gao%20Gao&w=10097937%40N08
TOOO COOL!!!
I’m so happy that you included Our First Ever Baby, Hua Mei, in the August birthday remembrances. It’s nice to know that she is still considered a part of the SDZ panda family even though she lives so far away.
Moderator’s note: Absolutely!
Count us in as we will try and schedule Lynn’s SoCal Followup Doctors Appointments the same time as I wait for her to be released from 18 months in an upstate NY Medical Facility…… Only question as we would be coming from NJ is everything provided and would there be provisions for ice and hot water if Lynn needs any special care due to her medical condition such as use of a wheelchair…..
I am happy for the NABC’s happy outcome of the reunion of Lily the Black Bear and her Cub Hope….It seems that Hope has become an internet star along the line of Yunior and I saw many comments on their Facebook Page from our GPF Family and Friends that also followed the ongoing saga of a wild bear and her cub that became seperated for 5 days with a happy outcome ……
” Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things…….”
Moderator’s note: Dennis, please call our helpful reservations staff regarding any special needs at 619-718-3000 or 800-407-9534.
I found the Bear Cam.
You can look for Lilly & Hope at their “Port Bear” area. Here is the link.
www (dot) bear(dot) org/website/visit-us/nabc-webcam(dot)html
# 11 Grammmie:I specially like the Saturday afternoon nap one.so cool!
Sounds fantastic. I wish my daughter (just for that weekend) was 21 and not 17!!
Yes #2 Teri, you must go. Such a lovely way to remember your Mum.
This sounds like so much fun.
I’m sooooo jealous. We started talking about this right after the Panda Convention in March and had just determined to go ahead and contact the Zoo about possibly doing for next year’s convention!! Heads up SDZ–you’ll be hearing from us in the next few days, if you haven’t already) about doing this for the Panda-Gavanza 2011 (aka Convention) for next March (last weekend)!!!
Too bad MD is so far away for August… 
Moderator’s note: Sounds good, Laurie!
I am so in – just going to hunt someone to join me – or I’ll go solo!
Oh, I was wrong. I looked up and found out it is not Lilly and Hope you can see on the cam, it is the other Bears they have. They have a beautiful brown bear. The bears are in one exhibit all together.
Hi, gang!! Well, have to apologize for not writing to you in the last week; lost my keyboard because of water being spilled on it! Just got a new one today thanks to a friend—WIRELESS!!–and I’m typing on it now! You take something for granted alot until you lose it, then you’re miserable without it! Oh well……
I have been watching the pandacams alot trying to catch Yuni. Did see him high up in a tree a couple of days ago. He was an acrobat in that tree! Yesterday, I saw Yuni sitting right beside his mom, Bai, trying to eat some bamboo. Wondering if he’s been swallowing any boo yet? His poop will let his keepers know that answer soon!
Been checking Atlanta Zoo website for any news about Lun Lun’s estrus cycle. Nothing yet! She is still putting us on hold on that right now.
At National Zoo, there’s still no info about if and when Mei Xiang and Tian Tian will be returning to China. In the meantime, both pandas are still doing their normal routines—eat, sleep, playing a little bit but it’s getting a little bit too warm outside for that.
Well, that’s it for now. Will check back later on, but going back to the pandacams!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
I wish I can come to SDZ for the panda overnite, but due to low finances, won’t be able to make it from Florida! That’s a very expensive flight across country round trip! Hope everyone that does go will have a lot of fun, and please put pics on the website, ok? I’m also glad that you included Hua Mei on the August birthday list. Can’t believe she will be 11 years old this year! How time flies! She’s also a super mom like her mom, Bai—7 CUBS! Hope that she will be able to have another cub next year!
Going back to the pandacams!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
In earlier comments to blogs, I have noticed several inquiries about the early life of Gao Gao. The Chinese authorities had been petitioned by the Zoo in 2001 to swap non-breeding Shi Shi for a new male. They selected Gao Gao, living in a captive facility at the Fengtongzhai Reserve. I was sent, along with veterinarian Dr. Meg Sutherland-Smith, to Fengtongzhai to evaluate his health and reproductive potential. We learned that Gao Gao had been found wandering aimlessly in a state of dehydration and with a bloodied ear. The local authorities assumed that the mother and cub had been attacked by a leopard, but in any case the mother could not be found. Gao grew up in a large pen with bars on the public side and smooth plastered walls on the other three. A small “bedroom” area at the back was where he received his daily diet of bread, gruel, and bamboo. In the center of his cage was a brick planter extending about 10 feet above ground, having a small, spindly tree growing out of the top. The brick floor was uneven in places, and Gao would often sleep in one of it’s depressions. Extending along all three walls and the planter was a black ring, about 3 feet above the floor. There could be only one explanation for this. The ring was the residue from Gao’s scent marking and the height above the floor indicated that Gao was using the head-stand marking posture. (Earlier, a zoo researcher, Dr. Ron Swaisgood, had shown in an experiment that adult females spent more time exploring a scent mark about 3 feet above ground than those placed at ground level or half way in between.) Gao’s only known contact with another panda during the first 9 years of his life was with a female housed in a nearby pen at Fengtongzhai, whose growth had been horribly stunted. This was said to occur at a time when she was experiencing a weak estrus, but nothing came of the pairing except play. (Gao was released to the wild when he was about 3 years of age, but had to be recaptured shortly thereafter because he was hanging around the homes of farmers. It is unlikely that he encountered wild-living pandas during this time.) Suzanne Hall has mentioned in one of her blogs that Gao spent about a year at the Wolong Center before he came to San Diego, so he certainly encountered females undergoing estrus during this time. He arrived at the San Diego Zoo on January 15, 2003, at which time he was about 10.5 years of age. He had barely been released from quarrantine when the charming Bai Yun came into her spring period of receptivity. Despite his sheltered upbringing, he knew from the start what he was supposed to do, amazing everyone. The rest is history!
Moderator’s note: Thank you, Don!
Is there a way you could cam the campground group- waves and hellos to those of us who are toooo far away? Perhaps in front of the Yuncelot Palace?
There are some good news posted on the “pandanews” website, about a female panda, Lu Xin, released in the wild more than one year ago after she was found sick and underfed, and taken care of for one month.
pandanews (dot) org/news/released-panda-lu-xin-doing-well
I tried to read the Chinese article through a Google translation, but the translation did not make much sense…
It is nice to know that the Chinese are trying to quickly reintroduce the pandas in the wild after treatment and good nutrition. Fitting them with GPS radio tracking collar and planning on health examination in the future, is probably easier than trying to introduce in the wild pandas that were born in captivity.
I read the article posted on “Pandas Live On” website on that subject and I am still puzzled. The reintroduction consists of three steps of 5 to 10 years each. With the best scenario the pandas would be 15 year old when reintroduced in the wild, which is already past the prime time for female pandas for reproduction, and with the worse scenario, the pandas would be 30 year old when reintroduced in the wild, which is basically the longest live expectancy for pandas living in captivity, they will be way too old for reproduction and probably too old and weak to defend themselves against wild pandas. Did I misunderstand something???
My cousin was just here visiting me from San Diego. He purposely went to SDZ to bring me panda souveniers. He knows how crazy I am about Yun Zi, and the gang! He is a year ’round member of SDZ. I hope some day to go there, my birth place, (not the zoo!, silly) San Diego, and be able to go to the zoo in person. For now, I’ll keep watching the panda cam. Thanks for all you do, SDZ!! ☺
Moderator’s note: It sounds like you have a very thoughtful cousin!
This is music to my little round black ears. pandas Pandas PANDAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like so much fun, would love to come, but ….
You all need to include Mei Sheng in the list — his big day is August 19. He’ll be 7 (and hopefully a daddy.)
All 5 of the SDZ babies were born in August.
Moderator’s note: I’m sure he’ll be remembered during the overnight’s birthday celebration
I wish everybody a happy, safe, and fun Memorial Day weekend.
Thank you Grammmie for the hook up with the Mr. Gao pictures. He looks so tough in some and so sweet in other pictures. I like Mr. Gao.
That sounds like a VERY FUN weekend at SDZ. I know lots of people will go and have so much fun. Did I say my daughter was a child. I meant that she is 21.
#22 CHERI MERCIER It is nice to see you back…I knew there was somebody missing but just could not figure out who. I was going to ask if Yun Zi seemed to look bigger but realized you do not need a keyboard to watch, just your mouse. He has gotten cuter….and a week or two ago the keepers reported evidence that he was swallowing some bamboo. Our little guy is growing up. be sure to have a barttery recharger or other good supply of batteries on hand for your cordless keyboard. You will be in the middle of something and suddenly it will go dead…..it is hard to remember—but remember to check the batteries—-i had a cordless once myself that i got on a great sale. I think you will like it…..Love Grammmie
Sounds great…count me in!!! How did you say to make reservations on line….?? Is it the zoo site?
Love all animals…especially black and white ones!
Janan
San Rafael, CA
Moderator’s note: Reservations may be made by calling 619-718-3000 or 800-407-9534.
Wow! That sounds so cool!! I wish I could go!! I just love pandas so much!!!!!!!!! <3
Aw, man, I usually live down in Orange County and I would absolutely go to this, but I took a job in Yosemite for the summer. So sad that I will be missing out on the panda party; I’ll just have to snuggle up with my stuffed panda from the zoo panda shop that night.
Have fun all! Send the bears my love
Lesley
This would be a dream come true and would be such a wonderful event! I would definitely fly down for this (to this day, my daughter thinks I steered her towards San Diego State so I could come down and visit the pandas regularly…not sure when I will tell her she’s right!) Dating back to Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing in Washington D.C. through all in San Diego – and the ones I’ve ‘adopted’ in China – they bring such joy!
I’m thrilled to read all the comments and see how much interest there is in the B&W Overnight! I will keep you all posted as to how fast reservations are filling up. For those who asked, here are a few details…
- The campground holds a maximum of 88 people.
- You can register by calling 619-718-3000 or 800-407-9534.
- There is access to bathrooms all night; they are located directly across from the camp gate, and after the meal times we do have hot water for tea, etc. and coffee available.
- There is a medic who stays overnight in the campground with us, so there will always be medical help should anyone require it.
- We also have a cart available and can customize our Zoo walks if needed for those who want/require a shorter or flat walk (or just get tired).
- As far as gear: tents and a foam pad are provided, but we ask that you bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. We will have all your gear taken over for you , so once you drop it at the gear truck in the Zoo’s parking area, you won’t have to carry it anywhere.
Can’t wait to meet those who come! Thanks for letting me be part of your chat!
the adventures of prince gao yun part 4
‘wheeeee!’ he yelled as he jumped off the cliff, holding on to his trusty steed, wei feng or mighty wind. and just as they neared the other side, the twine snapped. with his last stregth he swung his horse onto safe ground. then he slid down the twine. he
in that split second a black paw reached out and he grabbed it. the paw pulled him into a cave on the side of the cliff. as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw the black paw belonged to a pair of bewitching eyes that were set in the face of a cute panda lady.
‘thank you for saving me,’ he blushed.
‘you are welcome, sir. I did what I could,’ smiled the lady panda.
‘may i know the name of the esteemed lady? i am gao yun.’
‘hee hee, i know. i know you are our prince….hee, hee, i am named bai li, my family lives in these hills.’
‘can i get to my horse? i need to get rid of this monster.’
‘follow me and i will lead you to him. do you need any help with the monster?’
‘i can do with any help i can get. you want to help me?’
‘i did some warrior training and i can shoot arrows!’
‘wowweee, you are something else, miss bai li.’
‘hee, hee, i am strong too.’
‘yes, i know,’ said gao yun rubbing the bruise on his arm where she had grabbed him.
they walked along a tunnel that slowly brought them to the top and there clamly eating grass stood wei feng.
‘wei, wei! so good to see you!’ as gao yun hugged his horse.
‘prince gao yun, may i suggest something?’ asked bai li. he nodded.
‘the monster sleeps in the afternoon when the sun is hot. i suggest we waylay him as he is sleeping and with the 2 of us working in tandem with your horse, the 3 of us will be a force to be reckoned with.
‘sounds like a good idea.’
‘in the mean time, my family home is up ahead. you can rest there.’
‘where are your parents? your family?’
‘i am an only cub and i asked my parents to move to my uncle’s village when the monster came. i remained behind to see if i could help other villagers escape.’
‘you are brave, bai li’
‘no, i am not. i just want to help.’
‘and you have a good heart,’ smiled gao yun. the way he smiled at bai li made her blush.
‘thank you, sir.’
when they arrived at her home, she showed him to a guest room and he fell asleep immediately, he was so tired from all the days of riding. he slept well and woke up to the tantalising smell of freshly steamed bamboo cakes.
‘yum,’ he jumped off the bed and quickly got dressed.
‘sir, please accord me the courtesy of having a meal in my house,’ smile bai li, ‘i have made some bamboo cakes and i am squeezing some apple juice with honey.’
‘i am most happy to eat with you. thank you for this feast.’
‘hee hee, it is a small repast, sir,’ giggled bai li as she ambled towards the kitchen for refills for gao yun was wolfing down the bamboo cakes.
after the meal, he saddled wei feng and together with bai li, they travelled towards the monster’s lair.
(to be continued)
More bad news from the North American Bear Center (NABC) Researchers Dr.Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield about the continuing Lily the Black Bear and her cub Hope , Saga as Lily has stopped Lactating and little Hope is becoming emaciated and is now being fed sweetend condensed milk by the NABC Researchers as they decide on how to intervene to prevent Hope from starvation as she won’t leave her Mom but doesn’t have the strength to keep up with Lily and has become so docile she has allowed the team to examine her and she is becoming skin and bones……To read the dispatch from last night substitue a . for the (DOT)’s below and the NABC Site will open for you:
http://www(DOT)bear(DOT)org/website/lily-a-hope/live-den-cam/495-worried-about-hope-(DOT)html
Still waiting hour by hour for my better half Lynn’s Doctors as she is soon to be released as we start her 18th. month of Medical Treatment away from home….Her spirits have been lifted by your kind words and Prayers from our GPF Family and Friends and SDZ as well as the fact she will be able to keep up with Yunior and her second family the Pandas at the SDZ….. She is trying to coordinate a SoCal follow up appointment with her Doctors so that we can attend the overnight event…… Again I Thank You all for your concern and helpful comments and prayers and will let you all know when she is released as I will take a Family Leave from my job as Service Manager for Pep Boys to care for her …….
“Panda Peace on Earth , Goodwill to All Living Things……” Pray for little Hope the Black Bear…”
I was watching the Hi Lites of LP’s birthday celebrations and at one point they were running a commercial. It was for a product that my company makes!!! It was kind of funny… anyway… CHD was wearing a checked short sleeve button down the front with one pocket shirt like the kind my Dad used to wear, so now I have a soft spot for CHD..
He still needs to be more quiet around the pandas.. 
I saw SCK carrying our girl into her enclosure with the Vet. I’m not sure what they were doing.. maybe the Vet was trying to just do an exam.. They were wanting to look at her teeth… LP was very squirmy!! Anyway, Mom Hui Lin was in the enclosure next door and pacing back and forth keeping a very close eye on her baby… At one point, SCK went to get a cloth and water for her Highness’s bath and LP stuck her nose through the bars and HL did the same… It was very sweet… HL does take care of her baby… I wonder how they will wean LP and if they will wait until 18 months like ZA, NZ and SDZ?
I also noticed on LP’s very clean feet (remember she doesn’t really walk anywhere) that she has a white stripe on the bottom of her paws under her toes… is that typical of all pandas? The white marking?
THERE ARE SOME LOVELY SIGHTS TO BE SEEN ON A SUNDAY MORNING. Hop right on over to Rita Petita’s Flikr pages for some great action shots of Bai Yin and Prince Fluffy-Butt playing together. I do not know who started it, but am willing to bet it was Yunior….what do you think?????….Love Grammmie (here is the lilnk)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/
Speaking of Hua Mei, I love this smile she has for her visitors in this YouTube clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfig2mAlkX4
I was just kidding around. My daughter is not 21 yet. It sure sounds like a fun weekend. When my daughter is 21, by the Grace of God, we will be there.
I don’t know how many of the over 13 million viewers that have been following the local barn owl, Molly……but we had a great picnic for her last Sat…..with ustream feeding live feed to the others in the world that couldn’t attend.
Plus part of the computer cam was run off a car battery…..so I bet the zoo could hook up something easy for a short feed of the over nite panda party.
Even a zoo employee could use a home computer and cam for the event…..
Molly had one fan fly from Florida for a 2 hr. event…..so it can be done…..and she fell in love with San Diego and now wants to move here!
Thank you, Dennis, for keeping us informed about Hope. I had no idea this was going on with Hope. By the Grace of God, Lynn and Sue will start feeding her whatever food bears would normally eat. I remember reading on the SDZ site some things that the black bears eat. I am too upset now to do that reseach and remember what black bears eat, but I think they eat fruits and whatever they can find. By the Grace of God, they will start feeding Hope regular black bear food. I mentioned before, that we got a kitten that was only three weeks old in the past. Even though he was so young and should have still been breastfeeding, he drank kitten formula and quickly started eating can cat food. Some nutrition is better than nothing. He is a healthy adult cat now. I believe Hope can make it, if they will start feeding her themselves. By the Grace of God, they will.
wicked1, God Bless you.
Texas Barbi (Gabrielle), Black bears eat nuts, berries, honey and fishes. They could give Hope some honey.
#24 DON I echo the Moderator—-Thank You. Some of us have been trying to piece together the true story of Gao Gao’s release(s) into the wild. Somehow the facts have gotten mixed up. Do you happen to know anythig about his early years of resue and release(s)??? If you have any facts that might help us we would be happy to know what is real and what is mixed up…Thank You.
#26 DANILELLE, NY I, too, did the math and wondered myself. Perhaps this will come up as a blog topic. Perhaps the problem was in the translation and P Wong can help us out.
#30 TEXAS BARBLI (GABRIELLE) I only gave you the link…Rita Petita took the photos and posted them…she is very talented.
#37 LUCILLA Wow this is getting to better all the time. It seems we have more in store for Prince Gao Yun….we are chomping at the bit…..Thank You……………
#38 DENNIS AND LYNN CARNEY (FLANDERS, NJ) So Sorry to hear the news about Hope. I bet the bear staff will figure out something so that Hope is not lost…Just like you never stop hoping for Lynn’s release.
#39 DIANNA FROM OHIO Well part is LOL and now I am intrigued about the white of her feet. From now on I will be looking for that when I watch her late show……
#41 TINY Thank you for pointing out the youtube stuff about Hua Mei. Were the people chatting during it American or Chinese I wonder. No wonder about their regard for Hua Mei, she is loved by all.
#42 TEXAS BARBI (GABRIELLE) Here is what you do. Make good friends with a local “Auntie” of Yun Zi. You and your daughter come out, visit the zoo during the day….then let her spend the night with Auntie and her family–maybe girls near her age—while you enjoy the overnight. The local Auntie must be one who cannot go on the overnight of cousre….Love Grammmie
#24 Don – thank you so much for helping us fill in the missing parts of Gao Gao’s life story. All I can say is, that bear is blessed! Imagine knowing what to do from the start. Go Gao!!
Oh that would be such fun! Back to school by then though. : (
I will be there June 14-17 though. Hoping to capture some Kodak moments with Yun Zi.
After 9 months of watching the little guy I hope my schedule is on his! I’m prepared to hang around the area all day if needed. ARGH.
#41 Tiny: Thanks for posting the link to Hua Mei. I think she looks like Bai….
Grammmie: Thanks again for alerting us to new Rita pictures… I’m thinking Yunior was being a pest..
Was just on the pandacam, and there were Bai and Yuni on the cam! Bai was eating her boo, Yuni napping on the rock stump. Will check up on them in a little while to see what they are doing.
If you all will go to the National Zoo website, there is some news about a trip to Bifengxia, China to see Tai Shan with one of the curators. Don’t have the info about that, but go to the NZ website to get more info on what you need to do to get on the list for the upcoming trip. That should be alot of fun going to China to see Tai Shan, and hopefully try to get a sighting of Hua Mei and Mei Sheng while you are there! Have not gotten any info about any cubs being born at Bifengxia and Chengdu yet from Pandas International. Hope to see some news about that soon with June coming up.
Not much else right now. Will be back later on!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
#24 Don: In your opinion, do you think the success that SDZ has had with natural reproductions, is because Gao Gao is wild born? Is it true that when he was released from the reserve, that he returned on his own? How old was he when he was found injured? Do you think that Bai because she is older and more “experienced” at the time she was bred with Gao led to the successful breeding, even though she wasn’t wild born? I’m just curious why SDZ has had more success with natural breedings and other zoos have had to use AI..
You know, I’m getting somewhat upset by the way the Keepers drag our Miss Ping around like she’s a sack of potatoes. She can walk, and climb (very well) all by herself. I know that there seems to be a cultural difference between how we in the US raise our pandas and in Thailand, but, Miss Ping is not a toy. She is a Giant Panda BEAR. Wish they’d just let her be her natural self.
Good News, Hope is doing much better!!! She is drinking a formula and the researchers say she is at the age where she starts eating other things in addition, since she has teeth. I am so grateful to the Lord. Today is my Birthday. I am celebrating over here.
Lucky people that are at least 21! Lucky lucky lucky! I REALLY want to go,but I’m 8 years too young.
GOOD AFTERNOON GANG. GOOD NEWS…..TWO MORE LOVELY YUNIOR PHOTOS are up on Rita Petit’s page. he looks adorable…but then it is hard for him not to. Here is the link for getting there quick…..enjoy any photos you have not seen yet……Love Grammmie http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/
ALMOST 4 P. M.—YUNIOR IS ON THE “STONE THRONE” HAVING HIS OWN little “foot party”. If he gets much more limber he will have both of his feet behind his head too. Did his new photos show him more confidnet in ihis climbing? it seems to me like he is much more confident…..Love Grammmie
Spending the night with the pandas sounds wonderful. As Laurie said earlier, we talked about a panda sleep-over after hearing one of our leaders talk about the fun her family had at the Roar & Snore at WAP, sort of a Bleat and Bedroll I guess. You guys have added all sorts of events that go way beyond and above what we were dreaming about. Janan, I know you will have a blast. If you wear your hat, I want a photo if it is convenient!! You, too Diana!!
Grammmie, here is another set of Gao photos by Rita P’s friend KJ Drill. At least, I don’t think I have posted it here.
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/kjdrill/tags/gaogao/
For folks worried about where Gao is housed, a couple of observations – mine & not official.
I think Gao can go outside to an area similar to Zhennie’s whenever he likes.
The normal procedure is to switch the bears around every 2-3 months. Things are different now because Su Lin will be moving to China soon so this is the last chance for her fans to get to see her.
Gao loves that little doorway where he sits to eat boo and will move across the room (that room is just like one Bai and Yunior used when he was too little to be on exhibit.) to select his next stalk of boo and then go back to his “spot” to eat it. You can see in Rita’s last week photos of gao Gao and in those at the link above that Gao is a relaxed, healthy bear with a beautiful, lush coat. If he were stressed, that would not be the case.
#24 – Don – Thank you so very much for the information about Papa Bear Gao Gao. He is a favorite with most of us but then we say that about all of the SDz pandas, including Hua Mei and Mei Sheng.
This is very unscientific but I am searching for photos and/or stories of Gao after his rescue as a very young cub and before he was first released into the wild. I have seen video of Gao at age 2 1/2 yrs but noyhing before that. My curiosity springs from A) what good looking animals Gao and his offspring are B) information that Gao was a “star” with Chinese school children who had heard his story (and/ or seen his picture???) and C) observing that all of his cubs are way beyond cute.
I am curious to see what the children in China saw and to see Papa Gao as a cub, if possible and to fill in some gaps in his story. I would also love to see cub pictures of beautiful Bai.
FOR YOUR READING/SEEING PLEASURE–Tai Shan and Mei Lan Photos, blogs, diary. Also 2 Pandas being readied for Macau. To make the links work you must remove any spaces and (dot) replace with a period.
NEW PHOTOS OF TAI SHAN AND MEI LAN
http://www (dot) pandasliveon (dot) com/
The Diary of Taishan Pt 9
http://chinapanda (dot) org (dot) cn/news/show_art (dot) php?id=462&hl=en
A DOGPILE SEARCH (4 SEARCH ENGINES IN ONE) FOR MORE DIARY ENTRYS BEFORE 9–long link so use both lines all together.
http://www (dot) dogpile (dot) com/dogpile/ws/results/Web/The%20Diary%20of%20Taishan/1/417/TopNavigation/Relevance/iq=true/zoom=off/_iceUrlFlag=7?_IceUrl=true
MEI LAN BLOG SITE (INCLUDES MORE PHOTOS–NEEDS TRANSLATION THROUGH WINDOWS 7 OR GOOGLE OR ???
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_49246d360100j1ax.html
Macau, China readies for gift of giant panda pair
THIS IS FROM BELOW TAI SHAN’S AND MEI LAN’S PHOTOS ON MAIN PAGE–no sepaarate link…love Grammmie
I HAVE PROOF POSITVE THAT BABY Pandas think the drinkers are mini-bath tubs to wash their feeties and bottoms in. This Panda I have never seen before, but most babies, when you get enough pictures of them will have one with themselves in the drinkers. This one is showing iti’s fluffy side, Yun Zi usually showed his cute little face. The rest I have seen are a mix of the two. I got this from a Flikr page belonging to Xi Shan. The comments with the photo are a hoot ! ! ! ! http://www.flickr.com/photos/68243048@N00/3522227270/ If you would like more phtos of the baby and friends go to this link http://www.flickr.com/photos/68243048@N00/
ANOTHER GREAT PHOTO of a Panda who fell asleep while E-mailing his lady love….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68243048@N00/2496129681/
I am not sure but I am getting the idea that Xi Shan is Hua Mei’s other only daughter. If anyone could enlighten me I would appreciate it. The family chart shows Hau Hau and Ting Ting as her only daughters–but we have seen names changed before…….Love Grammmie
#60 Grammmie – I believe the panda in the drinker is Xi Lan from AZ. And the one sleeping beside the laptop, I’m 99.9% positive, is Tian Tian at NZ. Thanks for the links; they are great pictures!!
#52 Anne in NYC – I am 100% with you, I have got so upset lately with the way things are done with the pandas in Thailand, that I have stopped watching. I wish they would let them be health happy BEARS…
#60 Grammmie – As far as I know Hua Mei has three daughters: Mei Ling born in 2004, with twin brother Tuan Tuan, Ting Ting born in 2005 with twin brother Wei Wei, and Hao Hao born in 2009, as a single cub. Hua Mei had a set of twin boys Hua Long and Hua Ao born in 2007.
Hi, does anyone know how much the baby boy weighs now?
Moderator’s note: Around 40 pounds.
What a great idea!! I am going to see if I can make it!!
Moderator’s note: We’d love to have you, Judy!
I think Bai Yun is stealing Yun Zi’s hammock from him at night. I don’t want to accuse Bai Yun falsely, but I suspect as much. One night, I saw Bai Yun sitting in Yun Zi’s hammock, for sure it was Bai Yun. Probably the next night, I saw something black in Yun Zi’s hammock and Yun Zi was walking by in view of the camera. He looked so sweet. I can’t say for sure, but suspect Bai Yun might be taking Yun Zi’s hammock away from him when she thinks no one is looking.
#48 TELLY 26 Remember the zoo is open for the early evening then–if you get a breeze from the Ocean it will cool things off in Bear Canyon very quickly. Bring an extra card and batteries for your camera, and at least a light jacket for you. Depending on humidity, the ocean breeze, your own body, etc. you may be cold or hot, so come prepared.
#49 DIANNA FROM OHIO Our adorable Prince Fluffy-Butt a pest???? How ever could that be?????
#50 CHERI MERCIER If some photos could be gotten of some of Hua Mei’s babies still in the area the joy heard from here would be thunderous. I believe one is in Japan, and One is to go to Macau this fall but that is only two out of seven. Any ideas from anybody where the others are????
#57 LAURA B On the blog we even had fantaside sleepovers…..with a stage built on the road in front of the Panda area high enough to see the Pandas from out recliner chairs. We had heaters, dinner there…we thought it was such a great setting, especially when they play in the moonlight.
Cub pictures of Bai would be too precious…we could compare them to her children and grandchildren,
Thank you for the links for Gao photos so I can see others offered. I think you have a good idea about learning more about Gao’s life, perhaps somebody can compile all of the verifiable information, some photos of him now, Bai and the kids, and present it to the children of China. We would only get to use photos that the photographers allow us to use since their copyright belongs to them only. I am afraid I would not be of much help, but once in a while I do get a good idea. By combining Gao’s book from China of his younger life, and his extended life here we might just have something for conservation awareness for the children of the USA too…Love Grammmie
the adventures of prince gao yun
Our fearless trio arrived near the lair of the monster. They tried to move as silently as they could. Ahead they saw the monster fast asleep. bai li reached into her quiver and withdrew an arrow. gao yun raised his paw and gestured that she should approach the monster on the left and he moved to the right.
they moved stealthily. gao yun raised his spear. at that moment, the monster swung his tail and swiped bai li off her feet. as she fell, she shot her arrow and it found its mark on the monster’s side. it roared with pain and then moved towards her, grabbing her in its talons.
‘LET GO OF HER!’ yelled gao yun and he thrust his spear at the monster. the monster dropped bai li and charged at gao yun. the monster pushed the spear aside and made a grab for gao yun. from the side, bai li jumped and did a flying kick at the monster’s head. it stunned him momentarily then he whirled round and pinned her to the ground.
wei feng picked up the spear with his mouth and threw it to gao yun. gao yun aimed the spear and threw with all his might just as the monster’s jaws were about to clamp onto bai li. the spear guided by the magic of the bamboo diamond, thrown by a pure and brave warrior found its mark. it hit the monster’s heart.
the monster screamed, thrashed around in pain and gave one loud screech. then its scales and claws fell off as swirls of smoke surrounded the monster.
quickly gao yun ran to bai li’s side and helped her up. both of them took a combative stance and waited. as the smoke cleared, the monster was no more. where it was before, lay a jade pendant. The pendant was etched with the outline of a panda couple.
prince gao yun picked it up and showed it to bai li.
‘oh, it is the jade pendant that was stolen from our chief many moons ago. it gives the wearer power for good or evil. it is up to the wearer.’
‘miss bai li, would you please return it to your chief then?’ said gao yun as he offers it to her.
‘he died last month. his family was wiped out by the monster when it stomped through our village.’
‘then may i pass it yo you for safe keeping?’
‘your highness, may your humble servant make a suggestion? since you defeated the monster, the pendant is now yours. keep it and use it wisely,’ said bai li as she smiled.
‘her smile lights up her cute eyes and her eye patches are the lovingly shaped as are your perfectly round ears. her tail has a cute spot on it….’ observed prince gao yun.
‘as you suggest, i will keep it and present it to my father. it shall be our panda treasure and may it protect our people.’
‘what a wise idea!’ giggled bai li as she clapped her hands in glee.
‘miss bai li, may i know the name of your esteemed father and where i may find him?’
‘hee hee, he is in the cave in the hills with my family. his name is wei long. we belong to the clan of pandas from the hills or shan xiong maos.’
‘Wow, you come from a line of brave and strong pandas and your flying kick is strong and powerful,’ exclaimed prince gao yun.
‘hardly, but there are some famous pandas from our clan, hee hee’, said the suddenly shy panda miss.
‘may i….may i….may i…’
‘yes?’
‘may i ask if you would be willing to accept me as a suitor?’
‘hee hee, maybe…’
prince gao yun reached out a paw tentatively towards miss bai li. just as he was about to…
‘YUN ZI, what are you doing up that tree? You are too high up! Come down this instance!’ yelled Queen Bai.
‘OW, Mama, I was just having some fun, killing scary monsters with talons and sharp ugly fangs!’
‘Master Gao Yun Zi, where are there monsters in SDZ?’
‘Mama, the nannykeepers and the guides are always talking about the baaad peeples who kill bamboo groves so that pandas starve. Aren’t those monsters?’
‘Yes, but not the way you think. They are greedy hoomans or hoomans who destroy our bamboo without thinking….they are uneducated people….that’s why we need to teach hoomans how to love us and look after our habitats..’
‘Oh I see now, Mama, but then there are also cute panda ladies,’ grinned Yun Zi.
‘Have you been talking with Papa with your APPROW phone? Has he been teaching you about ladies?’ demanded Bai Yun.
‘Errrrr, he said that there is only one beautiful panda lady in the world and that is you, Mama!’
‘Hummmph, a likely story! Come down, Milk Bar is open now!’
‘Yes, Mama!’ and over his APPROW phone, he heard Papa Gao say, ‘Good save, son! Hee Hee! Tell Mama I love her, OK?’
The End
Panda Team: Other than the hearing tests that are going on with Zhennie, Su Lin and Gao and SuLin’s crate training… do the bears including Bai have daily lessons on “give me your paw, open mouth for exam, ultrasound tummy exams, stand up or lay down on request”?
Don, thanks for the information regarding the wonderful Gao Gao. He is an amazing bear and I’m happy that he will live the rest of his life in the care of those who love him dearly, whether it be at SDZ or in China.
The story of Hope and Lily seems to be full of ups and down… Last night Grandma June, Lily’s mother, got involved, and mother and daughter got separated again with Grandma in the middle…. The researchers don’t know what to make of this.. Otherwise Hope is doing well, being fed on fresh goat milk and other goodies. Lily might be able to lactate normally again and we Hope they will soon be out of the woods, well in their case we Hope they will stay in the woods and resume their happy life together. bear (dot) org/website/lily-a-hope/research-updates.html
Grammmie — Xi Shan is a lovely lady who lives on the East Coast and is a friend of mine. She keeps up with the lineage of a number of the pandas here and abroad. The original Xi Shan was a cub she adopted (not Hua Mei’s).
Danielle, NY, Hi, it is me Gabrielle. I have not watched Lin Ping lately, because I can’t get enough of Yun Zi. Even at night, just to catch a glimpse of Yun Zi walking by or climbing on mom’s head is a treat. After watching Yun Zi bother mom last night when she was trying to rest, maybe she deserves the hammock. Anyway, I will pray for Lin Ping. I have only seen her being treated right and lovingly. But I will pray for Lin Ping, in addition to how I pray for her already. By the Grace of God, Lin Ping will always be treated right. I am sad that it has been upsetting. I know we love all these pandas.
Grammmie, you are right Rita does take professional quality pictures, wonderful pictures. I am suprised she does not charge for the pictures. I appreciate that Rita shares her pictures with us. You have me thinking to get my camera off the charger and go find some nature to take pictures of.
By the way, I think Bai Yun might want a hot pink satin hammock for herself.
Have a very good week
Gabrielle
#68 Lucilla – Cute, cute story… What an imagination! I liked the “Approw” phone and nannykeepers…
Lucilla–great story! I hope there will be others–and I’ll bet big sister Zhen Zhen has worked out some fancy moves that might help Yun Zi fight the monsters too.
Zhen Zhen is sure active & bouncing in the high trees this morning about 10:30 AM….she sure knows how to entertain herself.
#60 Grammmie and #61 pandafan-north – I found another picture of Xi Lan on the drinker. Xi Lan sitting on the water fountain facing the wall!!
silly adorable boy Uploaded on February 3, 2010 by bob2cleo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58141177@N00/4329310704/in/photostream/
You add mommy Lun Lun to the mix and you get Xi Lan on his mommy Lun Lun’s back
whaaa? Mommy wovs dis! Doan you Mommy? Uploaded on December 5, 2009
by bob2cleo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58141177@N00/4161820704/in/photostream/
But even without the drinker he was a handful for his mommy…
Lun :: cwap! Uploaded on December 5, 2009 by bob2cleo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58141177@N00/4161064885/in/photostream/
no breaks for a mommy bear Uploaded on December 5, 2009
by bob2cleo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58141177@N00/4161065071/in/photostream/
I need a nanny out here, stat! Uploaded on December 5, 2009
by bob2cleo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58141177@N00/4161822032/in/photostream/
#71 Danielle – I’m almost afraid to read the updates on Lily and Hope.. I never followed the posts or watch the den cam when she was born but after reading about her here on this blog I had to check in… I know there is some controversy on how the researchers are intervening, but how could you not? I know people say “let nature takes it’s course” but she’s just a baby and I think being the expert scientists that they are, they know what they’re doing…
I HOPE YOU SAVED THE LINK FOR RITA PETITA’S FLIKR ACCONT. There are four more great shots of Yunior doing “his thing” on a Sunday afternoon. He looks wonderful as usual.
Zhen Zhen put on quite a show this morning—she will be tired.
# 68 LUCILLA another great ending to a great story. I don’t know how you do it, but you do do it, and I, for one, am greatful…I am sure many others are as well. The next question I have is about the Jade Pendant. Was it crafted by Pandas or by Nature, does it symbolize romance? Does it seek the pure of heart like the bamboo diamond or those truly in love? Do you get where I am going?…..Love Grammmie
I MEANT TO INCLUDE Rita Petita’s link in the above post, but forgot. It can easily be found in #55 above.
#61 PAN FAN NORTH I cannot remember today where I got them from…maybe it ws from another blog or something…..I just suddenly saw these cute pitctures and was pretty sure somebody would enjoy them.
#63 DANIELLE I looked it up yesterday and they show on the family tree that first was two boys, then a boy and girl, then 2 boys and then her single girl. Do they have it wrong?????? The tree I used was on Pandas live on blog.
#66 THE GREATER ONE IS IN ME As far back as the Pandavention in March all Bai could fit in the hammock was her head. I have seen her eyeing the bottom of the hammock when Yunior is in it, and I wonder how long it will be before she wakes him up by head butting from underneath.
#71 DANIELLE, NY It is a pity they do not know there is a formula that is used for the Pandas that was worked up by the San Diego Zoo…..I bet it would be better for the situation. With Grammy interfeerring it is hard to tell how this will turn out…is she lactating by any chance????
#72 MARY IN BROOKLYN Thank you and Xi Shan for such quick information. Is it possible she has baby pictures of Hua Mei’s babies along with the Gao family babies???? It seems to me that all of the bears outside China are related to one or more in each family..is that true or just seem true??
…………………Love Grammmie
Moderator: Just checking in and Bai is doing her walk-about. Must be close to lunch. Camera 6 looks like it has 3 absolutely HUGE spiders on it… I bet they escaped and one of the entomologist is looking for them…
Moderator’s note: We’ll alert them
New pictures of Yun Zi on Rita Petita’s photostream, Here is the Link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/
Yun Zi looks so handsome posing for his adoring fans. Yun Zi acts like he knows he is a star. I love it when he waves at everyone. What a star Yun Zi is.
Grammmie #60, Thank you for the links. No sitting on water bowl,cubbies. When Yun Zi was in his first exhibit, he scent marked “her” water bowl. And sure enough Mommie Bai paced by and shoved him off her water bowl. He kept scent marking on her water bowl. And hopefully he did not ruin her water (yuck :O ).
But I have not seen him do that now. But I have seen her asleep on her water bowl while Yun Zi plays with his feetsies. Here is a picture of him playing with his feetsies, while mom is asleep on her water bowl.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4578629036/
P.S Another story coming
#67 Grammmie – re Hua Mei’s cubs. I believe one of them is in Taipei (sorry I can’t say if it’s Yuan Yuan or Tuan Tuan but it’s one of them).
#66 Yes, indeed, Bai is warming the hammock at night. Sir Yun was observed climbing down from the “big” branch early this morning. Some of the apes at the NZ have a pillow and blanket in their hammocks… perhaps we should send Bai a gift card so she can pick out a few cutesy nesting items… oh, Goldilocks- this one is just right.
Ha, there is proof Bai Yun is taking his hammock. Links: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4372441007/in/set-72157623469546832/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4373193116/in/set-72157623469546832/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4372440761/in/set-72157623469546832/
The Muddy Cubbie Collection
Yun Zi’s Muddy; Waves to his Fans
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4407362161/
Yun Zi; Mini Muffin Muddy Man
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4404171724/
Yun Zi; Muddy Boy Muffin
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4348057228/
Yun Zi; Muddy Again!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4344795415/
Zhen Zhen; Muddy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/3816141218/
P.S More photo collections coming!
Caught; Yun Zi Acting Bad
(grrr)
Yun Zi’s Stairs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4652330793/
Yun Zi takes a bite out of Mommie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4643270543/
Yun Zi spys on Mommie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4632317064/
Yun Zi cuts Mommies toes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4631717597/
Yun Zi tries to scare people off!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4615678654/
Dianna – Ohio, Don’t worry. All is well. Going swimming now.
Yu Zi close up at 13.31 on the clock……not sleeping…..quite a cutie
Is this Mollie Fan Club??? Sure sounds like it. I think she deserves a VIP treatment. To all newer narrators – Please let her stay as long she wants.
What a lovely story, Lucilla, I just love reading them. Thank you for taking the time to write them down. It keeps my mind off Hope and Lily for a while.
Thank you so much Don for filling in some of the blanks about Gao Gao’s earlier days! Do you have any knowledge during the time of his being “so charming to the school kids and TV appearances” that we’ve read about in so many news clippings?
Laura B – I don’t think that I will be attending the August sleepover. In fact, I know I can’t. I am saving and anxiously awaiting our 2nd convention next March. And I do so hope as Laurie pointed out that we will be able to have a Panda sleepover then. But you know I would be wearing my ears if I went!!! It does sound like soooo much fun. I will be envious of all who are able to attend!! Pictures guys, lots of pictures. What a birthday party for all our pandas!
OOOHHHH, my husband is having surgery in August so I wont be able to come…DARN, oh but maybe I can have his mother sit with him while I am off to San Diego
this is sounding better and better.
#77 DANIELLE, NY You have me laughing out loud….that is just too good…I hope everybody sees it, especially MC IN SHANGHAI, he thought my words about Yun Zi using the drinkers as mini bathtubs was funny. I love all the links you presented.
Did any of you happen to see ZZ standing on top of her drinker, straight up against the rock wall behind, then reaching down into the bowl for water to splash on herself. I saw it on the web-cam within the last 2 weeks—it was a sight.
#81 DIANNA – OHIO I have not seen spiders lately, but I do often see large flying insects. The thing
with the large flyers is to NOT CALL THE ENTOMOLOGIST…..well not until you throw a saddle on them and ride them around the enclosure a few times.
#83 PAN FAN-NORTH Thank you—that does sound like something I have heard. I like keeping track of who in the family is where——is that because I am a mom?????
#84 KATHY IN CT Is Goldilocks a sales associate????????
#85 BRITNEY When will you be joining an investigative news company???? That series is also on a video….she was intent on making him get up, and it worked. If you get on a ‘you tube’ search for DoxieMom or DoxieMom19…and then search her area for the date the photo was taken you should find it. I was taking snaps from the panda cam while The DMom was getting the panda cam on video, and Rita Petita was there in person taking great photos. As you can see by the size of her bottom in that hammock she could hardly get comforatable in it—–bue maybe she uses a bit of it for a body part and uses the branches it is hung from for a complete bed????
The dirty cub club photos are a hoot—more collections.
#86 BRITNEY How could our perfect Yunior be anything but good????? He could not be bad.
Grammmie, Yes I will post more collections. Oh I will give you another Yun Zi acting bad collection with photos of Yun Zi acting BAD!
Here is the: Yun Zi acting REAL BAD! Collection
Yun Zi hitting Bai Yun’s Behind and pulling her legs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4572919585/
“I stole these treats and I am proud of it” 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4439166367/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4572926815/
Yun Zi stealing sweet Bai’s bamboo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4573554080/
Yun Zi shows his Kung Fu skills (grrrrr)
Yun Zi back-talks Momma
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4560111315/
Yun Zi hurts Mommie’s Ear
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4510620381/
Yun Zi yelling “what you lookn at” and sticking his tongue out :p
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4492205866/
Yun Zi pesters mom
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4432837184/
Yun Zi listions to Su Lin’s phone converstation
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4403332790/
Yun Zi peeking in on Sue
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4402563919/
Yun Zi steals the keepers rake
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/4393372137/
P.S I love Yun Zi no matter what.
#24 Don,
Thank you for the history on GAO GAO. Poor baby has been thru so much… He is a survivor for sure.! So happy he has found a comfy home in beautiful San Diego.
After a snack of bamboo Both Bai and Prince Fluffy-Butt got up on the “Stone Throne” together. They did not cudddle together long, Fluffy was a bit restless and had trouble settling down. He decided to play with mommy but mommy was asleep, so I am not sure she even knew…..Love Grammmie
#92 Grammie Goldi knows her bears- be it in a book or in a zoo. The queen of comfort for years- please help Bai find the perfect fit. The fit is falling way, way, way out presently. Next the bough will be breaking and the baby will be falling- hammock and all…
#51- Dianna from Ohio — females pandas are in charge of who they mate .Goa & Bai Yun have Hit The Mother Lode
I was just watching the Panda cam.
And Bai Yun & Yun Zi were fighting!! As soon as I tuned in mommy shoved Yun Zi. Well I guess it is not Yun Zi who is acting badly now. He had influenced Bai Yun.
Bai Yun laid down as he climbed on her belly she shoved him again. They are on the log at the same time. She is lying down, Yun Zi is being viscous! 
He bit her, she pushed him. Go Yun Zi!!! Bai Yun is lying down peacefully, while Yun Zi is twisting her arms around and she continues to push him. Leave mommy alone! 
Oh Bai Yun, it must be so hard to have a cub who always wants to fight. He must enjoy bothering Mommy. :p Yun Zi just hit Mom in the eye! “AHHHHHHH” Bai Yun must be screaming. I picture her saying “ we are in public at least act right in public, you can pester me when it is night out” As she tries to think of ways to get the pest off her head. She just shoved him the in shrubs!! Bai Yun has had it. Yun Zi gets back up and jumps on her belly as if she is a trampoline. 
Then I missed the rest of the scene. But they are fighting again but I can only see there hands and feet kicking around because the camera is not towards them. 
Bai Yun started cleaning him! (Oh my)
Just read update on Hope and Lilly. By the Grace of God, the Bear Researchers will find Hope, the bear, this Wednesday. By the Grace of God, the Bear Researchers will take care of Hope, the bear, themselves.
I am learning that I don’t understand bear behavior at all, at least black bear behavior. The Bear Researchers said that it was common for mom black bears to leave cubs to climb the trees while they escape when they get scared. Boy, they are not like other mom animals that will fight to protect their offspring, like cats or dogs or probably other animals.
I am relying on the Limitless and Boundless Favor of God in this situation.
I love your stories Lucilla
I’m definitely planning to come to this event, with one friend!!! How do we “reserve?” thanks
Moderator’s note: That’s great, Judy! Just call our reservations staff at 619-718-3000 or 800-407-9534.
also thank you all for your pictures of the pandas – I haven’t been on the cam alot and I am glad to see cute updates!
#92Grammmie #77DANIELLE:Oh Yes !I saw all of these great pictures.made me laughing .The past few days,I was busy.But I read the blog and check the live cam everyday before i go to bed.ShuXiang and QiMiao were chosen to go to macau.I am glad that ShuYun was not elected.I’d like him in the second grade panda babies.
In the darkness, Yunnie could hear some rustling among the trees above his hammock. He awoke from his nap with a start as a paw patted him on his tushie.
‘Baby Brother, come on!’ urged Zhennie
‘Where are we going?’ asked Yunnie with sleep in his voice.
‘We are going on an adventure! I overheard some bad hoomans saying they want to sneak into the zoo at night to sabotage some of the animals. We must not let them do that!’
‘But what can I do? I am just a baby panda!’
‘Nonsense, you are brave and fearless and you’re my brother. Follow me and I will show you what to do! I am getting Su Lin to come too.’
‘What about Mama and Papa?’
‘Hee, hee, they are already waiting for us. Papa Gao is putting on his ‘no nonsense attitude’ face. He looks so sweet!’ and with that she somersaulted to land just below Yun Zi’s hammock and then slid down to the ground.
‘Come on, we’ll swing from this tree to that and then we jump over the fence! OK, right follow me.’
And before Yun Zi had time to think about it, he was swinging through the air. He was giggling as he was enjoying himself.
‘Sssssh, baby brother. We must be alert. These bad hoomans may try to harm some of the weaker animals first if they hear us coming. Now let’s drop over the fence. Ready, one, two, ju….mmmpppp!’
And next 2 them stood Su Lin grinning from ear to ear.
‘I thought you 2 were never going to get here!’
‘Well, had to wake sleepy head here!’
‘Hey, I’m a baby, I need my sweep.’
‘Well, Gao family Unite!’ smiled Zhen Zhen as the 3 joined their Mama and Papa, ‘Papa, what have you found out?’
‘With my infra red glasses I can see movement on the south eastern part of the zoo. There seems to be three of them.’
‘I think we should be able to handle them between us,’ said Bai Yun confidently.
‘Woah, mama is so different, ‘ thought Yun Zi, ‘I never saw her as a Angeline Jolie type babe….hee hee, my Mama is the best.’ Quietly, he slipped his paw into hers and gave it a squeeze.
‘I think if we walk in a pincher like formation from here to here and then to here, we can under the cover of darkness and with the element of surprise be able to tackle these bad peeeples,’ continued Big Daddy as he pointed out the area on a huge map of the zoo he had pinned to .
Dear Friends,
My story will be continued. My fingers were trigger happy and pressed ‘Submit’ before I had time to type in ‘To be continued.’
btw, the map was pinned to the side fence.
Peace,
Lucilla
Hope is missing again and scientists are trying to understand why the bears behave the way they did. bear (dot) org/website/lily-a-hope/live-den-cam/499-why.html
Hope and Lily are separated again…
#80 Grammmie – Sorry, I had printed the Hua Mei’s family chart last October and hadn’t checked it on the Pandas Live On website since. I knew that Mei Ling’s name was misspelled but I had not realized that the gender was wrong. The name of the father of her second set of twins was missing and I had figured out it was Ling Ling, the same father as for the first set of twins, it has now been added. Quing Quing was listed as the father of the third set of twins and now it is a question mark.
Don’t misunderstand me, I am not at all critical of the people who are trying to gather information about the pandas, it is often really hard to get, especially for the pandas in China. I have often spent quite a lot of time trying to find information I never managed to find…
#83 pandafan-north – You are correct, Tuan Tuan, son of Huan Mei, and Yuan Yuan daughter of Lei Lei, are at the Taipei Zoo in Taiwan. When pandas are born anywhere in the world, they are given a stud. number. It is funny that Yuan Yuan was born in Wolong on August 30, 2004 and her stud. Number is 587. Tuan Tuan and Mei Ling were born on September 1, 2004, also in Wolong, and their stud. numbers are 588 and 589. So pandas 587 and 588 are now a couple in Taipei… That information is not on the Taipei zoo’s website but there is some interesting info. I did not know for example that pandas do sometimes drink so much water that they behave as if they were drunk!!!
zoo (dot) gov (dot) tw/panda/english/index.htm
‘Mama, Papa, why don’t we tell the nice nannykeepers and they can take care of the bad hoomans?’ asked a puzzled Yun Zi.
‘Zhennie overheard the bad hoomans so there is not enough time for us to alert the nannykeepers. We animals must help each other. So Gao Family, are we ready?’ said a determined Gao Gao.
A chorus of ‘Yeah’ resounded the panda enclosure.
‘OK, come my babies, let’s get into position. Su Lin you follow me. Yunnie and Zhen Zhen follow Papa!’ came Bai Yun’s directions in a hushed whisper, ‘We can do it!’
As quietly as the wind, the pandas moved into the various positions. Papa Gao got his cubbies to crouch low when he spotted 2 bad hoomans.
And when a piercing whistle sounded from Bai Yun, Gao Gao signaled his cubbies into action. Zhen Zhen grabbed some overhanging twine and swung, knocking down one of the hoomans. Yun Zhi did some somersaults and as a human bowling ball he managed to knock down another hooman. At the same time, he managed to chomp on an exposed ankle. He also used one of his enrichment toys to clunk the hooman on the head, while Zhen Zhen threw a rubber tyre over the other hooman.
‘Hee Hee,’ giggled Yun Zim ‘eeewww, bad hoomans taste bad, yucky! Hee Hee, but it was worth it.’
At that moment, Bai Yun and Su Lin ran out and managed to sandwich the third bad hooman and squeezed him between them. And then Bai Yun gave him a swipe of her paw to keep him quiet while Su Lin used her sack to cover him.
By then an alarm had been raised by the other animals and some security officers as well as nannykeepers came running.
‘Gao Family retreat!’ exclaimed Papa Gao as he gathered his tribe for a hasty retreat.
Zhen Zhen leapt and climbed a tree, carrying Yun Zi on her back. She leapt from tree to tree and then using a special rope she lowered her brother back into his hammock.
‘YAY, the Gao Family saves the world!’ shouts Yun Zi as he stands up and does a victory dance shaking his tushy!
‘YUN ZHI! Why are you making such a ruckus! You are behaving like a hooligan!’ Mama sounded really upset.
‘Mama, we just saved the zoo!’
‘Are you dreaming again? Your dreams are getting wilder and wilder!’
‘Mama, you and Papa were undercover agents to protect the zoo and Jie Jie Zhennie could swing and somersault over the fences and leap from tree to tree. Papa has these funky infra red glasses where he can see in the dark!’ the words came tumbling out of his mouth in his excitement.
‘Silly boy, I am just a panda mother. Secret agent? That is really funny. Wait till I tell your papa. He will laugh.’
‘But Mama, JIe Jie Su Lin and you trapped one bad hooman by squishing him between the 2 of you, it was so funny!’
‘Are you saying I am fat, young man?’ demanded Queen Bai.
‘NO NO, Mama, you are perfect!’
‘That’s better. Now where are your enrichment toys?’
‘Mama, we used them to….’said an excited cubby.
‘Now now, settle down, it is very late and you need to rest.’ Bai Yun hugged her little one and he thought she winked at him and gave him a knowing smile.
The End
I hope Doxiemom captured some of Zhennie’s fun yesterday since I missed it all.
I did watch LP and mom having a grand ole time last night. LH *ala Mommy Monster* kept knocking LP off the wood structure and LP would climb right back up and run towards LH to attack her. She’s too aadorable!
I also caught some adorable play time with Xi Lan. He’s such a fluffy bundle of joy.
Hi everyone sure wish I was younger I would be making my reservations for the NZ trip to China. I would love to see Tai Shan and Hui Mae and tell them how much we miss them.
#69 Dianna – Ohio
The pandas have “maintenance behaviors.” We try to do sessions at least a few times a week. Mouth open, lay down, and extend an arm for a blood draw are some basic ones we do with them.
Lucilla…thank you for the grand stories. They remind me of when we use to get Panda Paws stories from Pamela G. Keep them coming!
Thanks, Lucilla. I hope you are prepared to write a lot now that you’ve got us hooked on your stories. After all, Yun Zi sleeps a lot, so he must have lots of good dreams…
Ooh! Wish I could come to the sleepover!
According to today’s Panda Cub Updates on the AZ website, Yang Yang and Lun Lun showed a bit of interest in each other this afternoon. Lun Lun has also shown some physical changes that could be related to estrus. So there might be still some hope for Lun Lun’s estrus this year….
TO GET YOUR CUTE AND FUNNY OVERLOAD FOR TODAY just Bee Bop over to Rita Petita’s Flikr page at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/
and see the 5 new photos of our favorite Panda Cub with one of his enrichement toys. Be sure to click on each photo so you can read the comments below each one…..I would swear they were having a contest to see who could come up with the funniest one….they are a gas…Enjoy……Love Grammmie
Hi Everyone. I have been thinking a lot about Mei Sheng this year, especially with Tai Shan and Mei Lan going back to China. Does anyone have any news about him? Did he mate this year? I know he did last year and that he might have fathered a cub but beyond that I haven’t been able to find out anything. Thanks.
I wish I could attend! That sounds so fun. I would love to see all the animals but of course especially our black and white bears.
#85 Britney – thanks for the link to the pics, they are so cute. I love the muddy cub. He is cute clean or dirty. I love when Bai just reaches over and hugs her little boy, it warms my heart. She is the best mom. I have to laugh when I read that the keepers and trainers say she can have an “attitude”. No wonder, she has that little pest bugging her all day! Too funny. She sure does know who the boss is.
I have also been following the Lily and Hope saga and it makes me so sad. I had a feeling that I should have never looked at that den cam being in the wild and all. I became very attached to them. It just makes you appreciate SDZ all the more knowing that at least the animals there are happy. Look at Gao Gao, he is one content bear! Zhen Zhen also, she is a hoot. As much as I woul dlove to, I could never work with animals, I get way to attached!
#109 DANIELLE, NY With name changes and such it is no wonder the Pandas are hard to keep track of. For some reason I find myself intrigued by the family trees….do you mind me asking so many questions???? Perhaps it might generate more help from people who keep track of our blog and we could get more input. I am not sitting around with charts and graphs, lists of names and dates….but for some reason once I look up some stuff it seems to stick with me, even though I have a bad memeory. Well it is a part time bad memory with me getting to guess when. Perhaps it is me looking for the information once I see a fact that seems out of place? I looked for the second chart showing Hua Mei’s offspring at Pandas Live On and could not find it.
WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE article-photo-whatever about water making Pandas act drunk I ran into this photo with the caption “no comment” I agree. meiguoxing (dot) com/images/Butt.jpg Here is the link for the page of great photos meiguoxing (dot) com/Features/Giant_Panda/Giant_Panda_Photos.html
(The link at the end of 109 comment lead to a “dogpile page” with 10 or more pages to search. If somebody has a direct link I would appreciate it. I am ususally better at picking the one, two or three best on the first page but this was mostly it is about Giant Panda in Taipei .)
Please give us an update on the numbers available for the sleepover. I may be able to join the party afterall! Now I hope it is not too late!
Hope is alive, but for how long??? Lily doesn’t seem to be looking for her and the scientists left food for Hope but did not catch her or see her eating… I am sure it must be hard on humans and bears.
bear (dot) org/website/lily-a-hope/live-den-cam/500-hope-is-alive-.html
Just read the update for today, June 2nd. The title of the update is, “Hope is Alive”, at bear.org. Hope, the bear is in an area familar to her. (The Bear Researchers saw Hope before she ran off.) The Bear Researchers are planning on taking Hope formula to help feed her. They believe Hope can eat the normal food she would eat in the wild. I am so GRATEFUL to the Lord. The Lord has saved a number of lives in my life. I am so accustomed to miracles. I am not going to change who I am, even though sometimes I misunderstand people. I like having someone bigger than I, granting ALL my requests and covering me when I am a bone head.
I wish everybody a HAPPY vacation!!! I got to go check and see who’s big fluffy backside is in Yun Zi’s hammock. May Bai Yun get her own hammock, pretty please. (It does not have to be pink.)
Hello panda fans. Here is a clip of our irrepressible ZZ having a grand time today, Wed., June 2nd.
The window is small so I would advice viewing it in full screen mode. ZZ is really showing off here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6zGozqx92U
Enjoy all!!
Dear Friends,
Rita Petita has done it again. She has produced a delightful series of Lady Bai and her Baby who seems to want to be a contortionist – maybe that could be his next ‘dream’ job at the circus with Zhen Zhen. So just click on http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/ and have youself a smile as Yunnie really tests his boundaries and Lady Bai is amazingly calm and beautifully serene amdist his rumbanctious behaviour.
Thanks for the kind words on the stories (Dawn, Frances, Grammmie, Tiny, Susan….). Yunnie is such a sweet boy and he is my muse.
Is Pamela G the one who wrote some lovely poems about pandas? I read one or two and was greatly moved.
Someone’s first birthday is coming soon too! He is all of ten months I reckon.
Peace,
Lucilla
Moderator’s note: Pamela G did indeed provide us with some beautiful panda poems over the years.
#99 BRITNEY Do you think maybe there was something in the Bamboo they ate?????
#100 TEXAS BARBI (GABRIELLE) Some animal species do protect the young by fleeing—in hopes that the predator will follow them and miss the cub….baby.
#104 MC IN SHANGHAI I am so glad you at least get to read the blog….and participate when you can. The names we got that are to go to Macau are entirely different….but we are learning to be patient about that since it hapens often that names get changed when moving, the Panda is adopted, or in pairing with another Panda permanently. I am so glad the photos made you laugh…one of the nicest things about laughter is that is sounds the same in all languages of the world. Do you get to see Shu Yun in person, or only through blogs, panda cams, and photos???
I just realized how lucky we are to have 5 cubs born at San Diego Zoo. If the Female gets to choose the male, but they are not paired at a mature age, or by chance….first husband Shi Shi went back to China and Gao Gao came here……they are perfect for each other and for producing cubs. The staff works very hard to make the most perfect situation they can for them….but then it is up to the Pandas…we have a winning pair.
#115 FRANCES IN NYC And if they have any trouble filling the beds for the sleepover they could hire Lucilla to tell stories until everybody falls asleep that night. Wouldn’t that be a treat?
#116 DANIELLE For Yang Yang and Lun Lun and Atlanta Zoo—Good Luck.
I did later find the Hua Mei family tree chart….I may have been looking at the blog from a page back in time, without the current tree, or I just messed up. Goodnight everybody.
NOW HERE IS A WEIRD ONE….Between now and 12:20 a. m. the enclosure usually gets darker….tonight it is lighter. I do not know if the moon came out or a light switch turned on or off when it whould not have, but to be on the safe side i refreshed to make sure it was not something I had done. If momma and baby Panda decide to play I will have a ring side seat. You did not think I would turn my computer off now did you?????
Hi all
I found tons of pictures of the two pandas going to Macau. check them out! It’s from a personal blog
blog (dot) sina (dot) com (dot) cn/s/blog_49246d360100j4gp.html
Plus. Yun zi is sooo big now!!! I can’t believe it. He grows like a bamboo shoot
blog (dot) sina (dot) com (dot) cn/s/blog_49246d360100j3sy.html
Pictures of a panda mother breast-feeding three panda cubs at the same time. Their names are ” zhi zhi” “qi qi” and “wen ya”.
Only “Wen ya” is the panda mother’s own cubbie but unluckily she is the poor girl who can’t not push to the front against the other two at first and walked away then came back then finally get a spot. Obviously the panda mom loves all cubs no matter who their birth mother is.
blog (dot) sina (dot) com (dot) cn/s/blog_49246d360100j1ax.html
Oh, and here are some new photos of Meilan from the blog. How cozy her life is!
I’m trying to find out the identity of the blogger he/she has so many pictures of pandas
blog (dot) sina (dot) com (dot) cn/s/blog_49246d360100izws.html
OMG! Pictures of panda bathing! They really like it! Especially the water part. I guess the blogger might be someone working in the panda base where Meilan is.
blog (dot) sina (dot) com (dot) cn/s/blog_49246d360100iz34.html
And here you can find the most hilarious ears of panda! really mickey mouse like!
Dear moderator: I’m sorry for posting so many individual posts….should have put the links together in one post.
BAI YUN JUST WALKED INTO THE CAMERA LIGHT…AND SEEMS TO BE looking for something….there it is…she was looking for trouble. I would call Fluffy trouble. He woke up rather fast tonight……….but she has now distanced herself by getting on top of the upright logs…I guess we are going to play King (or Queen) of the hill. He likes that game—especially when she is on the floor, he loves to climb on her to win….Love Grammmie
COME ONE COME ALL—-IT IS THE BAI AND YUNIOR SHOW. Rita Petita has added a whole bunch of posees in wonderful positions…including some of his imitation of a hat….they are a riot….Love Grammmie
I JUST HAD A THOUGHT……..YUN ZI, in Rita Petita’s photos……………checks her fur, gives and eye test, examines her mouth, looks into her ears and even the strength test to see if she could hold 40 punds on her head and still smile…..will it be Dr. Yunior in the future???? I forgot to put the link to the photos in one of the comments above. The comments for the Dr. Photos are, again, a gas—do not miss them…….Love Grammmie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/
#117 Grammmie: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… Bai should be given a medal for her patience… she is the best Mom. Bless her panda heart.. she puts up with getting her teeth checked out and a paw in her eye… and a 40 lb pesky panda boy on her head… It would be so hard to be a panda keeper. I would want to stand around and just watch them all day!!
Grammmie–now Weeta Pawteeta has pictures up of Bai Yun wearing a very fetching (and wiggly) panda hat!
I agree with you, Linda #119–I’d get way too attached also.
#121 DIANA S. don’t ask questions….just call the reservation lines at. To make reservations, please call 619-718-3000 or 800-407-9534. Love Grammmie
#121 Diana S. I called the zoo on Tuesday and the nice gentleman told me they have 88 spots and as of that date, just a few reservations. I’m trying to move my vacation to CA up from September to August.. trying to do the overnight adventure, wap, yosimete (I don’t think I spelled that right) wine country and the the aguarium in Monterey… and checking on hotels and cheap flights to CA!!!! SO overwhelming.
Maybe I’ll let AAA figure it all out for me! 
The nice gentleman at the zoo also told me you can rent sleeping bags for $25 but I think I could probably mail mine to CA for that…
If the Overnight Black and White is between 4pm through 9am… will one be able to see the Pandas when it gets dark?
Lucy–thanks for the pictures of that panda mom with 3 cubs. That it sooo sweet, though I hope her own cub gets some private time, since she’s the smallest.
#121 Diana S.
There is still space available!
Dear Pandafan-north,
Thanks for the Miss ZZ video link. She is really gunning for the gold medal in Gymnastics with a tree apparatus in the Summer Pandalympics. Hmmm, wonder what her dream job would be?
Peace,
Lucilla
Hello. Tuned in at 10:46 a.m. SDZ time today and our Princess ZZ is having a grand romp with her weeble, rolling on the dirt, somersaulting, attacking the poor weeble, and whatever else came to mind. Now, she’s trying to settle in for a nap. Such a cutie pie!!
#128, 129, 130, 131, & 132 LUCY Thank you for the link to the Macau pair…even the music was great. All I want to know is why they are sending one dirty one and one clean one….it sure was funny seeing a black and white along side a muddy friend….
The mother panda nursing 3 cubs at once…..I love the way she puts her front legs around them….but how did they get her to smile for the camera half way through……..Each and every set of photos is wonderful, and the music along with them sets great tones…Thank You for putting the links on the blog so we could all enjoy them and their music.
#`136 DIANNA – OHIO I agree with all you have said…….
#137 FRANCES IN NYC I did a late check last night and found them to be great….thank you for thinking of me……Love Grammmie
Wow, what a pleasant response to my request about reservations! Thank you all so much for taking the time. I did call and I did get in!! I just knew that by the time I figured out I could make it, all the reservations would be gone. Not so. Very nice gentleman said there are still many available and that was at 8:30 am when the reservations lines opened this morning. Keep working on your plans Dianna from Ohio! It will be so much fun. Spending the night at the zoo with our beloved pandas (so to speak) will be truly a magical experience. Now I need to go work on the logistics…..
Hello B& W overnighters! I am so happy to see so many reservations over the long weekend, and as noted above we do still have space to come join us August 21st! To respond to a few questions…. YES, though you can rent a sleeping bag for $25, we don’t have many at all – it is sort of an emergency supply incase someone forgets theirs. SO – I highly reccomend bringing your own, and if you do need to rent one, please inform reservations so we hold it for you. This will be first come first serve.
As far as seeing the pandas after dark… we have lots of events, experiences and visits scheduled throughout the program and we’re still oragnizing al the details. We try to make our visits work with who is up and out on exhibit when, keeper avialbility, etc – so we will have our private panda viewing most likely be in the early am hours when we can see evrything they are doing, and the Zoo is ours alone! In the darkest hours we will prowl around to see the B&W animals that are most active (and out) at night.
I hope this answers some questions – I can’t give away all the surprises… you’ll just have to come to find out everything we’ve got planned!
# 124 pandafan-north: THANK YOU! I love the poster’s comment, “Pandas are not usually this active.” Obviously they don’t know our Zhennie.
# 132 Lucy: LOVE those ears! And the pandas being washed… lol.
Love the photos of Mei “Miss Fluffy Cheeks” Lan. She’s as gorgeous as ever.
Grammmie, that is a very good idea about why a momma black bear might flee the scene if they thought danger was near.
I have been pondering this all morning. I remembered a momma black bear I saw on a nature show several years ago. The narrator said that the momma bear got after her cub when the cub tried to venture too far for her liking. I was impressed with that momma bear and I learned something from her. I used that momma bear as a model for parenting. That momma black bear was very protective of her cub. I got the impression, from the nature show, that the momma black bear would have fought anything to protect her cubbie.
I have been pondering this morning. Could the human contact that Lilly, the momma black bear in this case, has had have affected her protectiveness of her cub? I get the impression that the Bear Researchers feed Lilly and have friendly contact with her. Could that human contact have impacted Lilly’s parenting? For instance, Lilly seems to somewhat trust those humans around her cub. I don’t know the answer to this question. Could Lilly, when frightened, have expected the human she is comfortable with, to protect her cub for her?
I don’t know, but I am praying that Lilly and Hope are reunited Again. I want Hope, the bear, to know that momma bears are there for their cubs. I want Hope to know how to be a good momma black bear. The way she would learn to be a good momma, a momma that does not abandon her cubs, is for Lilly to be a momma bear for Hope even now. By the Grace of God, Hope and Lilly are reunited AGAIN.
#136 Diana, you can always go to the zoo earlier than 4 to see the pandas, then just hook up with the group at 4 pm for the Sleepover festivities. And it won’t be dark until nearly 10pm so plenty of light to see all the babies! Gonna call and make my reservation right now. Can’t wait to see the old Panda Convention folks, and meet new folks too!
All I can say is that the WAP sleepovers the last two years (I take my grandson and daughter) have been amazing! I can’t imagine this one at the zoo would be anything less than fantabulous!
See you all soon!
OMG — I have had the pleasure of watching Mom and Son playing together for the last 10 minutes or so. It has been such a hoot. And Momma Bai is acting like a young pup. She is amazing.
I haven’t had time to watch our kids or even read the blogs recently. And I miss the kids and I miss all of you!
Thank you Silvan for the update. How exciting! One quick question if you’ve the answer. Some of us know each other and have booked separately for the overnight, but would be willing to share a tent. And have been told that there isn’t a way to “link” the reservations to share a tent. If at some point, you find you need more tents is there a way to let us know and somehow we can link up the reservations? Just a thought if you need more tents
I’ve wanted to do a Black & White Overnight since I first joined SDZ in after Mei Sheng’s birth in 2003. Now I finally have a reservation & a borrowed sleeping bag. See you there!
Grammmie, maybe so. I bet Yun Zi put some spices in Bai Yun’s bamboo. Maybe some chli peppers, green & red peppers and some garlic. He sprinked them on her bamboo. And used food coloring to color the spices to blend in with the bamboo so Bai Yun would not notice. :p
But so much for that plan. Bai Yun took a bite and her mouth was on fire! :O That defiantly made her want to run around the exhibit :O . 
He makes a good hat too. Bai Yun sure does look good in her cubbie hat. Go Bai Yun!!! Work that cubbie (YZ) hat!
Linda loves Pandas, You are welcome. Bai Yun does have an “attitude”. Bai Yun IS the boss or more like a bossy queen. She is such a good mother, she deserves a spa weekend (or year). Yun Zi is always cute. Hope for the best with Hope and Lily.
Think good thoughts about Hope and Lily. 
Pandafan #124–thank you for that great ZZ video! I swear she was holding on by her teeth (and nothing else) a couple of times!
DoxieMom–I hope you can make videos of the ZZ and the Weeble show that pandafan-north mentions in #143 and the Bai and Yun Zi romp that Linda mentions in #150 for those of us who missed them.
Now I’ve got to catch up on all the other videos!
#151 Diana S.
Thanks for your willingness to share, but our sleepovers have a limit on people, not tents; there’s no “single-supplement” charge like some tour operators require, so you don’t need to share to make more room for others. The maximum number of people our Black and White Overnight can accommodate is 88, no matter how many tents are needed.
Thank you Moderator. We will not worry about taking up too much space then! LOL
Lucy–thanks for the link to those great pictures–maybe lanjingchao, who took them, could be persuaded to take some of Mei Sheng for everyone who misses him and wants to see how much he has grown since leaving SDZ?
#120 Grammmie – the zoo’s website is: www(dot)zoo(dot)gov(dot)tw/panda/english/index.htm
The page with the info on the pandas behaving as if drunk: www(dot)zoo(dot)gov(dot)tw/panda/english/det_behavior.html
I have my spot all signed up for. I was going to go to Las Vegas since I was just in San Diego last week, but I can’t pass this opportunity up! I’m looking forward to meeting some of the Panda-Monium ladies from FB who’re able to make it! It’s gonna ge a BLAST!
Yun Zi is so big now, sometimes I think he is Bai Yun. I had to figure out if that was Yun Zi on the branch earlier or Bai Yun.
It is an overcast day here, so I am cleaning our house and thinking. I wonder if once we feed a wild animal, in the wild, and gain their trust, if we change their natural behaviors. Could it be, that once we feed a wild animal, in the wild, and gain their trust, we become part of the fabric of their lives? Could it be that we stop becoming observers or researchers, and perhaps, become responsible for their welfare (if we have changed their natural behaviors). Some family members started feeding a female squirrel many years ago. Now, generations of her offspring have grown up being feed by humans. You used to see the squirrels hiding food for winter in the yard. I was wondering, recently, if those squirrels hide food for winter anymore. Have those squirrels lost some natural behavior and become dependent on humans for food? I think, that once we feed an animal in the wild and gain their trust, we perhaps, do change their natural behaviors. I think that we become responsible to those animals that we have developed a relationship with. I believe that once we feed a wild animal and gain their trust, we stop being observers and researchers. I believe we become responsible to those animals, as just by having a relationship with humans, we have changed their natural behavior.
#157 FRANCES IN NYC And Hua Mei and some of her babies too maybe???
#158 DANIELLE, NY Thank you so much–I really appreciate it.
#159 BRENDA IN ARIZONA That is a wonderful choice.
#160 TEXAS BARBI (GABRIELLE) A wise man quoted in the movie Perfect said that simply by observing something we change it. More and more I believe it to be true…but I hope mostly we change things for the better
#160 Texas Barbi. Very interesting thought although, from reading the Hope and Lily blogs it doesn’t seem that human contact has anything but good results. Regarding squirrels, I can help you there! We have lots of squirrels in the garden and yes, they do still bury their food (and not just for winter) – in my freshly planted flower containers! I have to protect them until the plants have settled in completely. This is despite them having a huge pile of monkey nuts. I think that if they see food but aren’t hungry, they will just bury it. Hope that helps a bit!
#160 TX Barbi(Gabrielle): I was wondering the same thing… But I don’t think that Bai climbs that high anymore does she? It’s getting hard to tell LP from LH from behind too. She’s starting to “broaden” out in the fluffy butt area like Mom.
You raise some very interesting guestions to think about… What you say sounds very probable. I also wonder if their natural behavior is modified as their habitats start to dwindle due to humans populating their areas.
#157 Frances in NYC
That’s a great idea!!!!I’ll see what I can do.Hopefully we get our wish!
You are right Grammmie, just by observing things, we do probably change things and hopefully for the better.
Susan (UK), I am grateful that Lynn and Sue and others are helping Hope, the bear. My family members feed the squirrels corn, they love it.
Dianna – Ohio, I have seen Bai Yun up on a limb on the tree near Yun Zi’s hammock, but I bet she does not go too high because of her full figure that Mr. Gao just loves. Bai Yun looks happy in most of her photos, it is always like she is smiling. When she is walking she looks tough, but when she is eating bamboo or playing with Yun Zi she looks like she is smiling.
For those of you coming to SD for the B&W Sleepover, just wanted to let you know that several of the folks that came for our First Annual Black & White Obsession Convention this past March will also be attending. So we’ve all joined together to create a little mini-convention. Go to the Panda-Fandom Worldwide Facebook page: http://tinyurl.com/BWMiniconvention, where you’ll find all sorts of information about connecting to share hotel rooms, carpooling, gathering for a Friday dinner, etc.
And just to let you know that our next Panda Convention will be March 2011! Details on the FB page too! The zoo couldn’t have been more wonderful setting things up for us and accommodating all 50 of us! SO I can imagine the B&W Sleepover will be outrageously delicious! I’ve already signed up and encourage you to do so too! Both the zoo and the Wild Animal Park really know how to treat their guests! Can’t wait!
**#159 BRENDA IN ARIZONA That is a wonderful choice**
I thought so, too, Grammie. Good thing I hadn’t gotten too involved in planning my Las Vegas trip or booked anything. I was actually going to start doing that yesterday or this weekend, but then I saw the camp-out.
Just a quick note that we are filling up quickly and I am getting very excited by all the interest in the B & W overnight! (I have to make it through our Father’s Day Campouts first – but I think I’ll be ok! LOL)
Since some of you are asking – there are about 30 spots left as of this afternoon. Also – IF when you arrive you have a single tent (meaning just you in it) and would like to pair up with a friend and share a tent that will be fine – we can arrange it when you check in. As mentioned above by the moderator, doubling up doesn’t provide more slots but you are welcome to have a roomie if you desire!
I’m so excited – I’m signed up for Black and White Overnight with a good friend. can’t wait!!
**and would like to pair up with a friend and share a tent that will be fine – we can arrange it when you check in**
Thank you, Silvan. That is nice to know we can do that at check-in.
Oh how I wish I lived nearby!! I would be one of the first on the list
My dream is to meet Bai Yun one day…and possibly touch her
#171 Heather – I sympathize. I wish I was closer to the zoo as well. To be in that enclosure, with the ‘hoomans’ all quietly gazing at those beautiful bears is magical, even when they’re just sleeping. I hope your dream to meet Bai Yun will come true soon. Now, about the touching part – I’m afraid it’s not going to happen; even the keepers have limited occasions for touching the bears. But I’m sure you will be thrilled just to be there so close to them.
I just signed up!!! To say I’m excited is an unstatement! Can’t wait to meet all the other campers and see our panda family!
I’ve been away from my computer and just saw th3e news of the Black & White Overnight. I am also an August birthday. I’m on hold and hoping it isn’t too late to get a reservation. It is taking forever on hold !
YES! There was still room and I made my reservation. They are really filling up fast – less than 10 spots left! I’m looking forward to meeting all the other Pandaholics. I’m going alone, so I look forward to making new friends.
As of the aka Lucy – My orginal posts have been under the screen name of Lucy, but I see that now there is another Lucy – future posts will be as Ginger,
Moderator’s note: Glad you can make it to the sleepover!
I got my reservation yesterday. Looking forward to celebrating All August birthdays! and of course all thing Black and White and Panda!!
Hold up ya’all!
You guys are not going anywhere without me.
See you at the SDZ for the B&W Overnight.
I was inspired by Kung Fu Panda, I still love that movie, I freak out over news about it lol, and btw 21 +? WHY IS IT 21+?
Moderator’s note: Because beer and wine will be available, we must limit the event to those over 21. Both the Zoo and the Wild Animal Park offer a variety of popular (and really FUN) overnight experiences. Check out the Zoo Sleepovers page and the Wild Animal Park’s Roar & Snore page!
Welcome Lee. I look forward to meeting other Pandahoplics at the Overnight. Looks like you got in under the wire – it must be almost sold out.
Earlier this week I had to cancel my original reservation due to scheduling and family conflicts, but I decided to go ahead and rebook this afternoon. I was told I got the last spot, so apparently it is now sold out. I look forward to seeing everyone there!
My photos aren’t as good as RitaPetitas, but if you wanna see more panda shots, feel free to visit my Flickr account. Not to toot my own horn, but some of them did turn out pretty good, I think.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/azcheetah/
Moderator’s note: We’re glad you made it, Brenda. We checked and there are still a few spots available for those who’d like to join the fun!
Just a reminder…. I arranged for really REALLY good deal at a SD hotel for the B&W pandaholics. Check it out on the Panda Fandom Worldwide page here http://snipurl.com/hotelsbw. Many of us from the March Panda Convention are coming to this sleepover, and arriving early to party with Bai and company. Can’t wait… a mini reunion, and lots of new folks to meet. Plus the added benefit of being absolutely up close and personal with Bai, Yun Zi, Zhennie, Gao and all the sweet pandas that we love so much. Gonna be a blast.
The WAP overnights (Roar ‘n” Snore) are fabulous, so imagine that this one will be as well! Want you to know that I’ve postponed leaving to be with my daughter and brand-new baby granddson just so I could do this sleepover. How’s that for devoted to MY bears?
Counting the days already!
#171 Heather, We’re planning a 2nd Annual Panda Convention in March 2011. Start saving your pennies and come to it. Great folks, and we’re trying to persuade the powers that be at the zoo to let us do a sleepover for that Convention too! Even without it, we have lots of great things planned. More details coming soon.
At our last convention, we had 50 folks from all over that attended! And we’ve become such good friends…. the power of the blog. And, of course, we owe so much to Bai for being such an amazing mom and having such great little babies!
So start saving!!! See you in March!
Moderator: Can someone please alert the camera people that camera #29 has some leaves that are pretty much blocking the view? Don’t know whether they’re on the inside or the outside, but they’re in the way! Thank you….
Well, the event is now sold out! I hope the Zoo does this again! Next year may not be so hectic! Can someone provide me with info on the upcoming Panda Convention?
Hello again, B&W Overnighters! I know we had some requests for sharing tents – and guess what? We finally figured out a way to make it happen. SO – If you already made a reservation (as a single) but know someone coming that you would like to share a tent with, please call our reservation sales staff at 800-407-9534 or 619-718-3000 and let them know the 2 names that those 2 reservations are under and that you would like to be in one tent. We will take care of making it happen, and since we are getting so full – it may just allow a few more spaces to open up!
I see a post or two that the B&W overnight is sold out…. we are getting close, but it is worth a call to reservations if you are still interested just to make sure… as some people have called to combine into one tent, we have actually been able to open up some spots here and there….
Since Zhen Zhen and Su Lin will be off display starting August 16, 2010. Does that mean that we will not be seeing during the Black and White overnight events?