Our little panda has grown up, weighs a hefty 99.8 pounds (45.4 kilograms), and has learned that it was time to move out and find his own place. The weaning process went very well with very little stress to Bai Yun and Yun Zi. Our researchers and observers informed us that Yun Zi is one of the most independent cubs that Bai Yun has raised. Yun Zi really enjoyed spending time on top of his favorite log and the artificial den structure.
On Thursday, February 10, Yun Zi was showing signs that he was ready to be on his own the entire day by sleeping on his side of the exhibit and being calm. On Friday, February 11, he was ready to move upstairs and see his first apartment away from Mother Bai Yun. This was my first cub weaning, and it was a sad and a happy experience in my eyes. Yun Zi is the smartest cub yet, and I have the wonderful opportunity to continue his training. When he gets a little more comfortable being on his own, we will start more complicated training such as preparing for the hearing study, which his sisters were involved in, and calmly accepting vaccinations in the squeeze crate. He seems more than ready to start the hearing study training. We are all excited for all the challenges Yun Zi can teach us.
As spring nears, there will be some temporary housing changes for the pandas due to the construction of the future takin and red panda exhibits. There may be times when there is only one panda on exhibit, and it may be unknown which individual until that day. This is due to the fact that they are noise-sensitive animals. So please bear with us during this temporary time of construction as we try to make the pandas as comfortable as possible.
Jennifer Becerra is a senior panda keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Yun Zi’s Training. http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/2011/01/11/yun-zi-training/
You go, Yunnie–rock on!!!
i love all the pandas
I don’t know if it is Gao Gao or Yunzi on cam right now. Cam guide says Gao, but it sure look like Yunzi. He looks so small, compared with the door and water bowl.
So glad things are going well at Panda Canyon. I hope to visit San Diego Zoo one day, especially the new and improved Panda Canyon. The addition of the other animals will be very interesting. Thank you SDZ for your dedication to wildlife.
Thanks, Jennifer, for your take on Yun Zi’s weaning. I have always felt that he would have no trouble on his own. He always seemed rather independent, when Mama Bai would let him be.
Thank you for the update on our little prince, we knew he was special the day he was born
Red pandas are in another family entirely, aren’t they? Maybe raccoons? I would much rather see Panda Canyon expanded to allow the public (who supports the panda bears) to see so much more of the panda bears – period. I am really not interested in seeing other animals besides pandas in that area. The pandas deserve all the attention they can get as they certainly are a huge income source for the zoo. I would much rather see the money go to more panda cams (especially on the baby) myself. What about videos of the panda bears?! I would adore seeing them do some of the things that the keepers are privileged enough to see on a regular basis. What does the baby sound like?! How does he behave during his weekly exams?! What is it like to hold him?! What does he smell like?! These are the things you can’t tell me enough about. Is he drawn to particular keepers, and why?! What is it really like to play with him? How hard does he bite in play?! This can teach me far more about pandas than some oxen-like hoofed animals that live in the home region or “red pandas” who are NOT pandas at all! I hope one day to be privileged enough myself to go to China and actually smell, hear, (and touch?!) a small panda myself. What should I expect?! What is that actually like?! What’s the latest count of pandas in the wild? It has been around 1600 for years now! Please, spend the money on that! Unless you intend to put these “local” animals in the same enclosures with the panda bears, they aren’t going to teach me anything about panda bears that I want to know.
I do appreciate the zoo (and support it in different ways) and the keepers – but I would give anything for their jobs – tough or not. These animals are so incredibly special in so many ways and there is so much more we can learn about THEM! Sorry to be a party pooper, but use the space, the money, for the fans and what they want – the pandas would not be here without them. They are the people who love them and support them financially! Personally, I do not feel that the FANS are respected by the zoos that have panda bears for their contributions to these wonderful, enigmatic, and fascinating souls – why not consider our thoughts and feelings for a change before spending how much money(?) on other animals and passing it off to the public as panda education, which I don’t see it being! Personally, I don’t like or appreciate what you are doing in PANDA CANYON.
Michele, there is no one on this blog who is not passionate about the well-being and history of the giant panda. San Diego Zoo has and is doing an amazing job in their research, educating the public, and caring for pandas. But SDZ is about far more than just giant pandas. They too are passionate about conservation, not only for pandas, but for other endangered species, of which there are many. The goal of the zoo is not solely for the giant panda. People are interested in the natural habitat (China) of pandas and about so many other species. San Diego Zoo is working toward the survival of all these species. Did you know the “red panda” is also endangered? I am not familiar with the other animals who share the mountains of China with pandas. I think it would be fascinating. We all appreciate your passion, but the goal of San Diego Zoo is to educate the public and preserve all species. I am hoping that you will go to China for the total experience that you are seeking. We all wish for that, and that you will come home and tell us all about it on this blog. (With photos too.)
I understand how she feels! It is ike only seeing half of a pkcture! And wondering what the other half really ls like. I t would love to hear Bai and the babytalking to one another, we seethem but no recordings aremade. And to let us know if the baby is stinky is that why Bai yun makes him brave the water?, and i agree i hate the snakes, and care little about a takin. They should be with the other hoofed creatures? We all are so fascinated by the progress of the babies, and the teachings by the mothers, and videos, so marvelous, that we realy don’t care about the habitats. Selfish I guess. Maybe more balance, or more updates? It isn’t complaining, it is just we want to know more, and not about China’s forced taking our babies. We should have more quarters for the the teenagers, so we can seewhatthey do. We get little from China!
Thank you for great update on the boy. With such great staff he was ready and
I think mom was ready to. I love to watch all the panda’s play and eat etc.
Again thank you for the news and makes all of feel better that he is a happy boy.
lu
Conversation with Gao Gao #90
Tourist: Hello, Gao Gao.
Gao Gao: Hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: Hey, where have you been lately? You must have been busy.
G: Oh, I’ve been into architectural landscape and interior design.
T: Wow, more enterprises?
G: Yes, and some art exhibitions.
T: Really.
G: Some classical…
T: You mean the ancients?
G: Cave paintings, too.
T: And then the moderns?
G: Yes, impressionist, abstract…
T: Any Picasso?
G: Well, actually, a combination of Dali and Picasso.
T: Loan from other museums?
G: No, they’re my scent marks on canvas.
T: Oh, Dali and Picasso combination on canvas?
G: Yes, by popular demand.
(In Bai Yun’s area)
Bai Yun: La La La La…
Tourist: Hello, Madame Bai.
B: Hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: You are certainly happy today.
B: Yes, can’t wait to go to the museum!
T: Museum?
B: Sir Gao Gao’s Pictures at an Exhibition!
T: You mean he’s playing Mussorgsky’s piano suite?
B: No, his bamboo ensemble suite.
T: Huh?
B: There are the flutes…
T: Well, of course.
B: The gamelans…
T: Uh, yes…
B: The samba ballet movements…
T: Mussorgsky wrote samba?
B: No, Sir Gao Gao’s Latin dances.
(In Yun Zi’s area)
Yun Zi: (sniff… sniff…)
Tourist: Hello, Yun Zi.
Y: Hello, Mr. Tourist.
T: What are you sniffing?
Y: I’m learning some dances.
T: Huh?
Y: I sniff foot steps and scent marks.
T: Oh, I get it, Gao Gao’s dance routines.
Y: Yup, here’s a heavy foot fall… no, not there, here.
T: Oh…
Y: And dig this rhythm.
T: Wow, the hot Argentine tangos.
Y: Then the Chinese warrior dances. (whoosh)
T: Wow.
Y: The twin sword dance. (grabs and waves bamboo stalks)
T: Yeah…
Y: And Green Dragon Crescent Blade halberd dance. (grabs a huge stalk)
T: Ah yes, the Gao Gao reenactments of General Guan Yu battles.
Y: Yup.
T: Now, what is that movement?
Y: It’s Lead the Damsel into Swoon Movement.
T: Looks like slow mo Tai Chi practice though.
Y: (sniff…) Hmmm. The scent must have gotten faint.
T: Well, hopefully there will be stronger scents forthcoming.
Y: Yup. Mama instructed me be ready to grab the new scents right away.
You have been missed very much P Wong…..it is nice to see you got to interview all of our Pandas in residence. Now would be a good time to visit the Pandas in China—and find out if they appreiciate ZZ’s antics and energy, both other Pandas and the Keepers/Staff. I, for one, would love to hear how Su Lin’s Decorating skills are viewed by other Pandas/Keepers/Staff. An interview would not be complete without a few words to the fans back in this part of the world from our girls. I always love your interviews but cannot find out which Travel Magazine you write for……..Love Grammmie
Love this! I was waiting for this. It is hilarious. I knew Sir Gao Gao’s scent marking was his way of teaching his son the eternal dances of a panda warrior. Xie Xie for the smiles and I can imagine Sir Gao Gao painting his masterpieces.
Yay! You’re back, with more humor than ever.
All these conversations make me smile. Thanks so much!
Nobody knows the inner panda better than P Wong. Glad to see you back in touch with them!
To keep things interesting, according to this article from the Chengdu Base, Lun Lun’s cub has been named “阿宝” which is “A Bao” (phonetically)…
www(dot)panda(dot)org(dot)cn/china/news/news_view.asp?newsid=655
looking up the symbols it seems the cubs name traslates as a jewel or gem; a treasure; precious; which I prefer to Po!
I agree completely!
Po in “KungFu Panda” movie is called “A Bao” in Chinese. Therefore, the two panda boys are also called “A Bao”, although some Chinese panda fans decide to call Lun Lun’s baby “Bao Lan” to be distinguish him from his cousin “A Bao” in Madrid.
I came across this article announcing that Lin Ping will stay two more years in Thailand. I am sure that will make a lot of people happy!!
www(dot)nationmultimedia(dot)com/2011/02/18/national/Lin-Ping-to-stay-in-Thailand-for-two-more-years-30148964.html
DANIELLE NY
That certainly will make lots of people happy—–she is a national treasure to the folks over there. She did have her own 24 hour a day TV channel, has had a birthday party every month for the first year, and I was surprised when her 1st birthday came it was not declaired a National Holiday……..they just had a 3 day celbration.
so proud of the little chubby prince..:) can’t wait to hear about his further training…
Amen Grammie! Such fun to watch her,even without anyEnglish. What a spoiled baby, are there any toys she doesnt have? Love her escapes videos. Wow, when given her head, she can tear down a place! Cute, and lots of videos, to share with the Taiwanese. How come another 2 years? Is her mother unable to have a baby? If you count all our videos, we have 24 hour info too. How about a series- “The life of a teen age bear”! We could have Zhennie and Su Lyn back for a movie or two. They are great beauties! Our own movie stars! And a red carpet day with all bear videos vying for first place. Instead of an Oscar we can have a Gao Gao! OK??
I trust that Yun Zi’s new accommodation comes at a reasonable rate and he can afford to pay for it out of his weekly allowance?!!
It looks very spacious for a little bachelor pad!
Yun ZI: Hey ZZ, how are you? I have moved into my own pad. I want some advice on the interior design…. You know that I like to have a fun pad….I want some blinds here, bamboo of course, hee hee…..and over here can I have an anglepoised lamp…..and a reclaining chair here so I can chill and read……And over that corner, I want a small cosy corner for when Mama visits for tea, maybe a nice chintz stuffed chair? Nothing but the best for Mama, yup, she the best and also when you become a Mama and come and visit me…..and in my kitchen, I want a wine cellar and some place to keep my stash of boo beer when I get old enough to have some, of course…..Papa said he will ask Uncle Chuang Chuang for some, hee hee….also in my entertainment den, I want a pool table for when AJ and Ping come to visit…..also a Wii corner for the widdle ones when Po Wee Lan, Po and De De, and Fu Hu come to visit……ya, I call Aj’s bro Poo Poo…..Auntie Lunnie is not happy wid me according to Mama….hee hee….and on that twee branch….the one opposite my sleeping perch can I have my poster of Miss Panda Universe 2008….hee hee, she is sooooo cute, isn’t she?…..hee hee, some day….some day….I will meet her…I know she is 3 years older….the charms of an older woman…Papa says…..ya, I think Mama is the older woman…hee hee…but Mama does not act her age…..the other day she hung upside down…..there was the one time I had to help her down a twee though….she and Papa better have another widdle one so that there is someone to look after her……ZZ, say hi to Sue for me….I wuvs the both of you….ya, I want some of Sue’s bonzai plants in my pad…..she is thinking of selling them?….cool…..ok, gotta go, my nannykeepers are bringing me some tweats….hee hee, ya, I am twaining them…they learn really fast….bye bye….panda hugs and kisses….
Dear Lucilla:
What a treat to have both P Wong, and you put some great interactions into words for all of us. I was sick for a couple of months before I was hospitalized in isolation for a couple of weeks, and then had to spend several weeks in a nursing home. It is for sure that I will need a walker when I am on my feet again, but right now the biggest problem is rebuiding the knees so I can get up by myself…..so it is wheelchair and bed for some time. I try to spend some time at the computer every day…..but last week I had a mystery illness last week and lost some ground, and no computer. It was as bad as all of the weeks I was not home….Love Grammmie
And Grammmie, we missed your presence too! Was wondering if I needed to send Mr Gao Yun Zi to investigate what happened to one of his biggest fans. He was already to go in his Papa’s red convertible. The Gao family are really happy to have you back on the blog.
Do rest well and stay well.
Moderator
When the camera was moved to a bedroom (that looked like Goa’s bedroom) I saw a small Panda sleeping all curled up in an oval Dog Bed (????). Is our Prince Fluffy Butt getting the royal treatment?? As soft and sweet as he is, for the moment, I suppose he deservers the royal stuff or did the older Prince and Princesses get to use “the bed” too??
I got to watch Queen Bai search our her biscuit treats, that was fun. When she got near the Hammock-even though it is small-I wondered if she would try to get into it since she tried many times when Yunior was in it….but she was still on the hunt. Perhaps her many attempts to get into it was Prince F. B. and not the hammmock……..Love Grammmie
These bedrooms are usually the adult male panda bedrooms, and now Yun Zi can call them his own during the construction. Yun Zi is definitely getting the royal treatment, especially since his bedrooms are near the keeper office, and we are always around to spoil the boy. The black tub that he sleeps in is something Keeper Kristen found for him.
Tell Prince R. F. B to hit the gas—-what a tonic he would be. Thank you for your caring, and nice to be back among pandaholics like me. My son’s girlfriend got me a little bean bag Panda when I was in the Hospital but could not give it to me until I got to the nursing home….he looks very sweet like P. R. F. B. so I pretended it was him. …..Love grammmie
Yun Zi is so grown up now and he has his own apartment. How is Yun Zi doing in his own apartment? Does he like it? He seems to be doing well. Thanks for the update Jennifer.
Thank you, Jennifer. This is good news; such a smart boy! With regard to your comment about how noise sensitive the pandas are. I live closest to the DC pandas. I wonder how they tolerated the very noisy construction that went on around them for months. Then, it was three of them…….Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Tai Shan.
Way to go Yunior!! We all knew there was something extra special about you when you were okay with just hanging out by yourself in your den watching the world go by.. (and yourself in the wall reflection). Bai did good..
Dianna fron Ohio:
I, too, thought I saw him gazing at himself, but was afraid to ask since the little men in the white coats may be coming to take me away anyway….seeing a panda looking for a mirror would have somebody convinced. Thank you , I feel much better aout it now.
GRAMMMIE,
One of the first things I noticed about Yunnums once he was old enough to be outside in the hammock was what I thought was an inordinate amount of fascination with his front paws! It sure seemed that those little paws were in the air a lot of the time being turned ever so slowly this way and that when I tuned in! Too adorable!
Will Yunnie get his hammock back? He loved it so much.
Probably not–since Bai always wanted it too. Even in the first outdoor area complete with bigger hammock had her very pleased with herself when she could jump up into it while Yunior was in it too.
Moderator’s note: Yun Zi has a new hammock in his back bedroom, all to himself.
oh that is great his own hammock again.
Glad the little guy is doing OK, often wonder how his sisters and brother are doing, any news on them?
We always knew that Yunni was a very smart bear after all he has two very intelligent panda parents. It does the heart good to hear that his weaning went very well and he has adapted to solitary life. I’m sure that he will be a star when he starts the hearing study. Keep us posted on your training time with him. Thanks.
Moderator, I was wondering if you might consider a blog to introduce us to the Panda Keepers. Love the latest blog, but as I read it, I thought, I wonder which keeper is Jennifer.
It must be quite confusing for the Pandas being moved around the different enclosures at present, but they all appear quite happy, thanks to the wonderful keepers out there.
Moderator’s note: We prefer to keep the blogs about the animals
Moderator
Perhaps the Zoo could put together a short video telling us about the keepers in each area. I know that areas sometimes overlap, but we could get some idea who is who, what their respondsabilities are, what animals they work with, and the ones just joining our Panda team. This would not be for information—-we are just a nosey bunch watching the world go by and reading the blogs and noting who wrote them, and trying to figure out if we have seen, or will see them during our daily “fix” of zoo surfing. Thank you so much….Love Grammmie
I hope that as many as can gets to the panda cam in a hurry…..Sweet DaddyGao Gao lifted his beautiful Fluffy Furry Feetsies off the ground long enough to get on a fairly low fork in his climbing structure-or a tree and is trying to take a serious nap there. It is approximately 1:30 p. m. Panda Time (or Pacific time). I think Sweet Daddy was afraid they were going to do a reality show, with him in it, so he moved along-or he was hungry………..MY BAD-MYVERY BAD and forgot that we are playing “get used to the change in numbers”. Sweet Daddy is now in the lower numbers and Yun Zi with his new apartment and yard is in range of cam 15….hope you get to enjoy them.
Watching all those months of the mini midnight rambler- aka Yunmobile, assured me early on that we were looking at, dealing with a trailblazer- extremely random at times, but one nonetheless- and when he thought no one was looking… Yun is so at home in his own fur. An almost absolute trust that everything always works out. Oh, the lessons from the canyon….
Love that name Yunmobile!
It’s 4:30 pm and pouring rain in San Diego. I tuned in to cam 23 which says its Gao Gao but if it is, I have never seen him roll and move around so much in his den. I thought perhaps it might be Yun Zi with such acitivity!!
I agree with Jennifer about Yunior’s weaning being happy and sad at the same time. I know Yunior was ready, though. Thanks so much for the cool blog! Is it raining in SD?
Moderator’s note: Yes!
So what happens when it rains? Do the keepers put the pandas inside? Or do they leave them outside, and let them decide what to do?
Moderator’s note: The pandas can choose to stay out or go inside. If the rain is not too heavy, they usually prefer to stay outdoors.
That’s so cool! Thank you for all the information. I was always wondering what the pandas would do if it rained.
You go, Yuni! Yuni has his own apartment to live in, play in, eat in, and sleep in. No doubt he will also be the master interior decorator as well! He’s not missing his mom one bit! Have fun, Yuni!
Checked in on the AZ pandacam today before it shut down for the weekend. Watched little Po, and he was pretty active while I was watching him for the last 30 minutes of the cam. He apparently had crawled or walked to the end of the den where the little window is, and he was really trying to see if he can move that den wall out of the way! He was just pushing his head on the wall and moving those little legs! Another unusual site I saw was a hand from a keeper that was thru the window bars giving Po a little baby rattler for him to play with. It was one of those rattle toys that has a stem handle with 2 balls on each end, and it has noise makers inside those balls. Po took a look at it, sniffed it, pawed it a little bit, but wasn’t interested in playing with it yet. He was more interested in trying to move that den wall! After some more minutes of working that wall, Po finally gave up and fell asleep in that same spot. Then, the cam shut down. Nice try, little Po, but that den wall is not going to move for you at all! One thing for sure, Po does have a keen interest in his surroundings!
Talked to Memphis Zoo yesterday (Thurs., 2/17), and the lady on the phone said that the panda keepers are constantly monitoring Le Le, their female panda, and they are also hoping for a successful estrus cycle and breeding season either thru natural mating with Ya Ya (the male) or doing an AI procedure on Le Le, hoping Le Le will be pregnant, and then Le Le having her first live baby panda cub birth later this year. So, everybody is hoping and praying for good results this time around. I did catch Ya Ya on the MZ pandacam getting up from where he was sitting at outdoors and walking away with a very long stalk of boo in his mouth! I guess he wanted some privacy away from the cam!
Well, that ‘s all for now. Will be back later!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
hey Chari, you have the Memphis pandas backwards I think. Le Le is the male and Ya Ya is the female
Teresa, you might be right there! I think I do get those 2 pandas backwards! I’ll double check the MZ website to get the correct info about them. Thanks!
Hope you are enjoying watching the pandas on all of the pandacams!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Dianne,
Thank you so much for your response. I love to hear what other panda lovers think. I am glad that you are passionate about them too – how could anyone not be?!
I do know that the red panda is endangered – and I am glad that SDZ wants to help them. My objection is that these animals are going to be placed in “Panda Canyon.”
I love animals and want all species to survive (one or two might be iffy) and I understand the zoo’s responsibility to preserve all and educate us on as many species as they possibly can. I support this and am thankful for it.
My fear, if you will, is that bringing other species into that special “canyon” may result in less zoo focus on the panda bears themselves as far as the pandaholics are concerned. I am deeply disappointed that Yun Zi is so out of the picture for those of us outside CA who depend on Panda Cam to watch and enjoy his fascinating little self! There is only one camera on him – I don’t get to see Panda Cam during the work day and when I run the time lapse each day and don’t see him, I am bummed.
I love Bai, I love Gao, and I love Yunnie. As Yun is a baby – just like human babies – I want to see him grow up and learn. If Panda money is going to other species, I don’t like it, because I am already getting to see so much less of the baby that I have come to love.
To me, pandas are sacred – they are an expression of God in a whimsical and funny mood! What brillance to create something that adorable and irresistible – and how charming their voices and sounds are!
These are BEARS that evolved to eat grass rather than fight for their place with other bears! They are so totally unique and delightful and I truly do adore them although I may never be blessed enough to have a “Close Encounter” of the PANDA kind.
Expanding our access to them as much as humanly possible may be selfish, but it’s where I’m at.
I pray that all those who honor them get the chance to experience them!
Thanks for listening.
I can see and appreciate where you are coming from, Michele, I just see it in a different light. (I can see & feel your passion for the pandas. Many of us share the same level of passion. I cried for weeks when Tai Shan and ZZ and Su Lin went to China!) I just don’t believe it will take the focus off the pandas, nor that it would in any zoo. The focus is simply to make people aware that other species inhabit the same areas in China as the giant panda. In defense of SDZ, I think that is commendable. SDZ put other species in the same area with the polar bears, and I don’t think it has affected the draw to the polar bears. I might add, that Panda Canyon will always be Panda Canyon. And the Panda enclosure will be first in line. Am I correct, Mods?
Moderator’s note: The panda exhibit area will be the same, but the entrance to it will be different, allowing guests to experience a bamboo forest habitat and some of its animal residents before you see the pandas.
Great idea moderator. It will give the guests a diversion while in line.
It is 6:00am SDZ time and Yun is wide awake in his little studio apartment- actually in the corner breakfast nook, munching away- yesterday I caught him thrashing around in his “looked like” bedding- maybe boo- rolling on his back, throwing the stuff around, having quite a celebration moment. He is more adorable than ever-and nannykeepers- the stress you must endure, making sure his needs are met.
I love all the pandas and especially papa Gao Gao. What all is known about him? I know he is wild born and had some tough times in the wild. Do you know was he abandoned by his mama? He’s quite a survivor.
Moderator’s note: You can read a bit of his history in the post Celebrating Gao Gao.
I know a little of Gao’s history. He was found injured and with his ear torn, by the Chinese, they nursed him back to health. And then later he was sent to SDZ.
Correct me if I am wrong.
PANDA CONVENTION UPDATE!!
REMEMBER WE HAVE FUN AWARDS AND PRIZES AT THE PANDA-VAGANZA 2011 BANQUET
BEST PANDA TALE PORTRAYAL:
Look through these panda blogs and choose a story or a dialogue (a short one) by Lucilla, P. Wong, Pamela G, or any other poet or storyteller that you or a group of fellow pandaholics would like to present at the banquet. You can use props or present it like a radio skit. Judges will decide on the presentation most deserving of an award(s)!
Please keep us posted on this one! We encourage all of you to participate. There are so many wonderful stories and conversations on the blog to choose from. We will need an idea of how many are going to present their renditions at the banquet so we know how much time to allow. So find your favorites and give us an idea of time required.
HAVING HELD A GIANT PANDA:
This is easy, just bring a photo or two or three ! of you holding a giant panda. You know the one where you have the blue gown and booties and sharing a bench with the cubbie. There is an award awaiting you!
BEST HANDMADE PANDA PROJECT:
So far we’ve only heard about Carolyn’s backpack, and Lee’s painted box. C’mon pandaholics we know you can do a panda craft. Let’s see some photos and get the competition wondering who’s going to win the award!
BEST BLACK & WHITE ATTIRE:
Another easy one ~ dress in black and white! Awards issued so be creative; what will the judge(s) be looking for?! Also awards here.
LONGEST DISTANCE TRAVELED:
Please bring your mileage from your home to San Diego. We’ll see who traveled the farthest! This prize is travel appropriate!
There are other awards, but you won’t find out about those and prizes associated with them until the banquet. We need to keep some secrets to ourselves!
Bring your thinking caps for a panda quiz and the feetsie challenge.
Bring your favorite panda memento or a photo if it’s large and you are unable to bring the actual item. We’ll have a brag and boast session.
Give us your thoughts and let us know you are ready to have fun at the banquet!!
If you have not read it already there are some great articles in the “Pandas Live On” blog. The first is about Panda breeding centered at the Taipei Zoo, who are a GIFT to keep, and a great expanation of the need for HEARING STUDIES. There are wonderful photos and videos through all of the articles, that are sent from others to Pandas Live On.
The last article is about Cousin Princess and videos of she with her keeper Tom. Sorry to say that CUTE KEEPER was not shown—I bet he got promoted out from Keeper to a lead place.
Does anybody know if Tuan (in Taipei) is one of Bai Yuns grandkids from an early litter—I mean twin sets born to her daughter Hau Mei. Thank you for any help you can give and enjoy the articles.
yes Tuan Tuan is Hua Mei’s oldest son from her first set of twins so he is Bai Yun’s and Shi Shi’s grandson. He’s a beautiful young panda isn’t he? there are quite a few videos of him on Youtube, by himself and playing with Yuan Yuan
The zoo did AI on Yuan Yuan recently so hopefully a cub will be born and Bai Yun will have her first great grandchild! 
Forgive me for making you tell us twice. I am recovering from a severe illness, and sometimes I cannot keep up with the blogs every day, let alone spending a week in bed for energy rebuilding and fever so that I cannot get to my backlog in a big hurry.
I very much appreciate you and everyone else who have, and keep, such information handy. Thank You bunches and bunches….Love Grammmie
No problem Grammmie, we know you are going through tough times but I am sure a lot of us are very glad you are back on the blog. On top of that there have been so many postings lately with all the fast developing events that I had a hard time keeping up as well…
Grammmie, I posted this two weeks ago:
As we see Bai Yun’ latest son starting a new phase of his life, it is quite ironic that one of Bai Yun’s first grandson is getting closer to make Bai Yun a great-grandmother!!
Tuan Tuan, who was called Hua Ling at birth, and his twin brother Mei Ling, are Hua Mei’s first twin cubs, they were born on September 1, 2004. Tuan Tuan is living at the Taipei Zoo in Taiwan with his partner Yuan Yuan. Their keepers are looking for the first signs of estrus!! blog(dot)sina(dot)com(dot)cn/s/blog_6a7c47100100p4xr.html
Since then Yuan Yuan has had two artificial inseminations and Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan may have mated naturally as well. blog(dot)sina(dot)com(dot)cn/s/blog_6a7c47100100p87u.html
We just now have to wait and see…
Yes Grammie, Tuan is Hua Mei’s son and Bai’s grandson.
Tuan is one of the cubs (all grown up) from Hua Mei’s first littler.
CUTE KEEPER is taking a nice, deserved, vacation in the Philippines.
Is Yunnie on display these days?
Moderator’s note: He was a few days ago.
As I type this message Bai is lying on the rock, under the hammock where Yunior always was while together with Bai …. is this an indication that Bai is longing for her cub Yunior and wishes to be reunited with him ???
Moderator, since yunnie is in his fathers apt. for now, does he have access to going outside, romping, climbing, and whatever he does best.
Moderator’s note revised: Yes, he has outdoor access and lots of climbing opportunities.
Out of curiosity, what happens to all the bamboo that the Pandas don’t eat and the nannykeepers take away and replace with fresh???
All the green waste gets hauled to a landfill to be chipped for re-use. We aren’t able to chip it with our chipper, but the landfill uses a heavy-duty tub grinder that can take care of bamboo.
Just took a look in- Now “he’s” got a floor bassinet to sleep in? How about a mobile? A little cam to monitor the keepers and outside hooman traffic walking by? Yun, you are becoming pricey- I mean priceless.
I still say any changes to Panda Canyon should include more cams and videos of the pandas. I have bought every video of all the SDZ pandas that I’ve been able to get my hands on and will continue to do so! I don’t think they all have to be educational – I would be thrilled to have footage of our beloved bears just playing and exploring new things! What about a video of SDZ’s pandas reacting to all the different enrichment they receive? I almost always miss this stuff, and feel like I’m missing an important part of their lives! It doesn’t all have to be warm and fuzzy either – they ARE bears. “All
Food is Bai’s Food” would certainly be interesting – I’ve heard it but never seen it!
I am grateful that Yunnie can sometimes be seen on cams 1-3 now – that is so awesome! What does his voice sound like and how often does he verbalize? I imagine that they are primarily quiet most of the time – I’ve never heard them verbalize when I’ve visited, no matter how much time I’ve spent around them.
Finally, I’d like to say that I truly do appreciate the work of the keepers (and researchers) – we have happy, content bears and that is due to the care and respect that they receive in their daily lives.
So proud of Yun Zi!! Does Bai Yun show any signs of missing her baby?
If you have any doubts, check the latest pictures of Rita Petita http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritapetita/
GG: Welcome guys to the first Annual Panda Papas Prep Party!
(All the Panda Papas to be, Le Le, Chuang CHuang, Tian Tian, Wang Wang, Tuan Tuan and Yang Yang, wolf whistle and squeal their approval and support)
GG: As you know there has been some research shown that says a change of diet and exercising those back feetsies will help us to produce those cubbies with the ladies.
So today, I will lead you in a series of back strengthening exercises using boo. Then Yang Yang is going to share which snackies has enabled him to father 3 cubbies so far.
Later in the day, Chuang Chuang is going to share on Loving the Wife, the Thai Way. He has some great ideas on scent marking and singing love songs just for the wife.
And of course, it will end in a all night bamboo luau and Chuang Chuang has brought some Thai boo beer. My beloved wife has prepared some snackies, Tian brought some specially prepared stew from his wife. OK we are all set right?
Come let us go over there and get ready to work those back muscles and once we have buns of steel, we can, heh heh, contribute to the re-population of the Panda Kingdom.
First exercise is the Bum Rotation. Imagine that wall is a canvas and you are drawing a Smiley face on it with your bum. Ready, gentlemen bears, we draw clockwise 10 times. Music, Yunnie please!
(Yun Zi was roped in to assist his Papa. He plays his iPod and Olivia Newton John’s old fave,’Let’s Get Physical’ reverberates through Panda Canyon.
If only Weeta Pawtita or PawsieMama was there, what a sight they would have seen to capture on film, All the male pandas with their bums in the air moving from side to side.)
And now the second exercise is this. Reverse push ups. Place a plate of approw snackies in front of you. Place your back feetsies up on the wall. Push down with your front feetsies. Grab one snack, munch munch munch. Rest, repeat.
(After 5 exercises, the males Pandas have worked up a sweat. So Gao Gao leads them to the Polar Bear enclosure)
GG: Our polar bear cousins have agreed to left us chill in their pool so get out your sunnies, slap on some lotion and lets have a swim. If you do the Panda Plunge right, it will also help strengthen the back muscles.
(And with that GG executes a perfect Panda Plunge and emerges several feet away.)
GG: Come on in brothers! Water is lovely.
(Later that evening, all the male Pandas were laying poolside, sipping boo mai tais, bambootinis, power shakes, and some special Thai boo beer. )
Yang Yang: Gao Gao, thanks for organizing this.
GG: My pleasure, We giys need to get together and not let all the girlies have their fun.
Tian Tian: Yes, our wives are always meeting for spa dates and baby showers. Hey GG, you going for No 5?
GG: Why do you think I organized this? Need to get my work out. Prep the body and the mind for some Springtime Soul to Soul Salsa….hee hee….
YY: Not for me this year but I will be rooting for you giys, Le Le, Chuang, Tian and the Gaoster.
GG: Hey guys, you knwo I might become a great grandpa? Tuan Tuan here may get lucky. Woah, I am going to be a Hero Great Grandfather…Watch out world!
Le Le: I do declare, I wonder how you do it, Gaoster.
GG: Well, considering how my life started out, I am grateful for all that has happened. OK, Panda brothers, let’s PARTY!
(At that signal, Yun Zi presses a button and fireworks were released and lit the night sky with stars and wheels and flower bursts. Music by the Panda Grrls filled the air as the Panda brothers let their fur down and partied on. For some strange reason, that night the panda cams at SDZ did not record a thing. Yun Zi may had had something to do with it but all he would say is ‘Hee Hee Hee!’)
those would be Fluffy Buns of Steel… hee hee
Hee hee! What a picture!
Nice to get the chance to know the guys better. Thanks, Lucilla.
When I first checked the pandacam from the Atlanta Zoo, it didn’t seem to wok. I checked again and there is Lun Lun’s cub all by himself in the hammock!!
LunLun has taken WeePo into the dayroom and put him on the hammock! He looks like a tiny little toy bear all curled up in the middle of it!
Won’t be long till we can go see him!
Everyone is out of view on the SDZ cam at the moment, so I checked in on Zoo Atlanta. What a darling picture – WeeLan is curled up sleeping in the hammock and LunLun is nearby chowing down on lunch, all of this can be seen by those viewing the pandas today. Not sure how WeeLan arrived in the hammock, but he is being the cutest he can be. Reminders of Yun Zi as a baby.
I agree, Pamda. Wee Lan in the hammock is absolutely adorable! If only we had panda postcards for ZA.
If you watch the pandacam from the Atlanta Zoo through www(dot)earthcam(dot)com/cams/georgia/atlanta/panda/index.php
You can save pictures by clicking on “Save Image”.
Thanks Danielle – I didn’t know this and will certainly give this a try
Oh, I hope others are having the opportunity to watch Zoo Atlanta right now. WeeLan woke up and got fussy. He tried with all his might and was able to roll over on his tummy. He has a black spot on his tail and it looks like a tuft of white fur on the inside of his left ankle. Then mom comes over and gets into the hammock with him. They are cuddling and she is playing with him. This is just too cute!
I was going to tell everybody the sasme thing too. WeeLan is just too too cute. I am going to destroy my computer monitor soon if I don’t stop hugging and kissing it.
Oh I know what you mean Ac, I just couldn’t stand how cute he was being, and when LunLun got into the hammock with him, I was beside myself.
Thanks Doxiemom for capturing some of this to check out again and again. I know where I will be tomorrow morning – check out SDZ, check out ZA, check out SDZ, check out ZA. Well you get the idea
Awwww…Our baby is all grown up. Bitter-sweet. We’ve known all along what a smart, handsome boy he is!! ☺ ♥