Bai Yun answered the calls of her suitor, Gao Gao.
Over the past three years, I have been collecting audio recordings of giant pandas in San Diego and China. On Friday, April 16, 2011, I was able to record Bai Yun and Gao Gao during their breeding interactions. Giant pandas are primarily only vocal during the breeding season and use this form of communication as a type of courtship. A recording has been provided so that readers can have a listen.
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In the clip, Gao Gao is bleating (sheep-like sound), and Bai Yun is chirping in response. Recordings like these have provided extensive information for our research and collaborative efforts with Zoo Atlanta and China.
For example, we have learned that giant pandas can identify the difference between bleats of different individuals. The bleat also sends information about the caller’s sex, age, body size, and genetic relationship (kinship). Also, the length of Gao Gao’s bleat tells Bai Yun about the level of androgen (testosterone) in his body; the longer he calls, the better. Gao Gao is an excellent bleater, and I’m sure that only adds to why he is such an excellent breeder.
In addition, Bai Yun relays information in her chirp that informs Gao Gao about when she is ready to breed. We have learned that the female chirp acoustically changes over the course of her estrus period (10 to 14 days). This change allows the male to know when the female is going to ovulate and when it’s time to breed.
Our research with giant panda vocalizations is still ongoing, and there will be more information to share later this year.
Jennifer Keating is a research scientist for the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research. Read her previous post, Pandas in China: One Year Later.
Thanks Jennifer for sharing your recordings with us. Now if I only had speakers on my work computer
Thank you Jennifer for adding the sounds of Gao Gao and Bai Yun. I thought it was awesome. Hoping for a little panda later this year.
Thank you–that’s so interesting, the way the vocalizations help identify pandas to each other. A number of months back, it was reported that Gao Gao and Zhen Zhen were ‘conversing’ even though they could not see one another; if the calls really can determine genetic relationship, maybe they did know they were father and daughter. And perhaps when Gao Gao saw Yun Zi that one time through the fence and ‘said’ something, he knew it was his son. Of course, Gao Gao can probably tell from the scents of the area that he’s the only mature male panda in the vicinity, as such the only one likely to be the dad. I’ve been wondering if pandas–either male or female–can identify their own offspring by their scent. Does anyone know? Just curious.
Panda Team responds: We can’t speak to their ability to recognize based on genetics, but the bears have shown they are able to distinguish individuals by scent. They have a complex and important scent-messaging system, and identifying individuals plays a role in their social communication.
Wow…..how neat to know the sounds and behavior. I hope they were successful and that we can see a little cub soon! ♥♥♥
Jennifer: This is fascinating information! It’s amazing how much you’ve learned about panda vocalizations during breeding through this research. Thanks for sharing it with us panda lovers!
Very interesting and such lovely sounds, especially Bai Yun’s chirps. So nice you share all your research. Thanks!
OMG, that is so wonder to hear, Thank you so much!!!!
How intriguing! I’m especially excited that Bai and Gao provided you with the opportunity to further your vocalization research, Jennifer. Can’t wait for summer and the answer to the question we all have: “Is she, or isn’t she?”
Wow, very interesting! Thanks for sharing.
This is music to my ears! I hope that Bai & Gao can be parents again! Thanks so much for sharing the audio of the lovely couple! Sometimes, I wonder what goes through their minds…Are they like us when we’re feeling romantic?
The SDZ and ALL of the keepers rock!
Wonderful! Thank you so much for posting. Looking forward to hearing more panda vocalizations.
Fascinating clip – thanks
How fantastic to learn even the kind of chirps! I heard several situations with breeding and i wondered how the male knew when his “bride” was ready! Now thanks again, we know!! Jennifer! your recordings are a delight for us all now that we know why and how the courtship starts and proceeds to the end! We are so lucky to have SDZ.!!And all of you specialists.
Thank you Jennifer for your article and the audio that includes the wondrous sounds of Bai Yun and Gao Gao. It’s just amazing to hear both of the proud Giant Pandas lend their voices for Panda Fans like me, which is something that might only be heard backstage. Thanks again!!!
Music to my ears!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, thank you sooooo much! This is stunning – the sounds of panda love!
Pam T posted a comment on Apr 18 regarding seeing Tai Shan on a live cam.
I too would love to be able to try to find this cam. I sent an inquiry to Pandas International about the progress of Tai’s Cam. The reply from P. I. director stated the cam that was donated by an American was still not up and running, due to persistent technical complications. She also stated that there is another cam thas been very spotty and works for some internet service providers, but not others. I may not be able to watch it, but I would sure like to try.
For those who would like to download and print U. S. Panda family trees, they can be found at P. I. or at Pandasliveon. The menus are on the right side. Scroll down pretty far to find it. You should also be able to find them on the American websites under Meet Our Pandas. Hope this helps you.
Happy Spring to all of you, and I hope you will all be safe from the dangerous storms we’ve been having.
You can find more info about the Tai Shan’cam by reading the following articles and links
www(dot)giantpandazoo(dot)com/panda/http:/www.giantpandazoo.com/panda-zoo-news/confusion-about-the-tai-shan-cam
www(dot)giantpandazoo(dot)com/panda/http:/www.giantpandazoo.com/panda-zoo-news/tai-shan-cam-online
Super! Thanks, Danielle.
Thank you Jennifer for this very thought provoking article. It is amazes me to find out how much information is passed between Bai Yun and Gao Gao with just bleats and chirps. They really are a complex species. I’m looking forward to your future posts on this subject.
Excellent! … You are the greatest Panda breeders, bar none! ….
Thank you so much for the recent info. l didn’t know that there was differences in the bleating and chirping patterns. I hope that another little is born this year and I hope that the baby is a little girl.
I agree! I want to see a little girl, or twins! Or girl twins!
I think Ms. Bai would be much better off with a proper girl to train up instead of a rowdy boy. 
I think you may have it wrong……. my opinion is that Bai thinks every time she gets together with Goa and is freindly with him, that she gets a nice rest, followed by a new black and white fluff ball to play with.
I thought, watching her spin Yun Zi on her feet while laying on her back, was preparation for her to eventually join a Chinese Circus, and be one of those jugglers who lay on their backs, juggling with their feet. In the middle of the night and early morning hours I could watch her practice in the Den just as soon as Yun Zi was big enough to toss around. Since Yun Zi was my “first baby panda” I do not know if she treated the girls that way, or her first boy either, but she even worked on her tumbling skills by summersalting over Yun Zi to enter the den, when he was in the way. I even caught her once on her hind feet standing straight and tall, in the den and looking at the camera as if it were intruding. I am unsure if these things happened during the day since I was on the “Night Shift” of Panda Watching……but it was before the time outs started, and I could shrink the cam screen down and put it in a corner so as not to miss any action, and still get other things done on the computer.
I, too, wish we could be the first American zoo to have twins, but perhaps there is a reason that her last two pregnancies were twins, but only a single birth in the end. I used to think that twins was the Panda way of trying to make sure they had at least one live birth…it could not be a problem of nutrition or physical conditioning since Bai has been pretty much raised at the San Diego Zoo, by the excellent staff, keepers and researchers for the last 14-16 years. We are so lucky here in San Diego, and both for our Zoo and for the Pandas selected for us. JUst so everybody is happy…. how about twins, one male and one female….that way us “watchers” can take notes from the “off hours” and report the activities to the staff there if they want us to. That way nothing will be misssed…..and we could figure out for ourselves if her behavior with cubs is different for boys and girls. We just have to have at least one more baby….I am just getting started with them—-less than 2 years. Love Grammmie
P. S. to Yun Zi from a couple of weeks back………you mentioned making up a band with your other cousins—–are you forgetting that your Cousin Princess Lin Ping is only a month older than you—–and she had a lot of practice singing with the “Panda Girlz” and knows how to be fashionable too. She may be bigger than all of you guys put together……but she is a Panda Lady, and deserves a chance to show off her lovelyness to the single Panda Men out there—so when her time comes she will have enough experience to make a Royally Good Choice.
Thank you so much Jennifer, Gao Gao does sound like a sheep. Never had an opportunity to hear a Panda before, absolutely wonderful. Now the waiting begins, looking forward to a possible little one in late summer.
Bai Yun was humming as she walked around putting the finishing touches to her pool party. ‘Hmmmm, snackies, check! Juices, check! Sunnies, check! Hat, check! and sun screen, definitely check! Now where are the ladies?’
At the moment, she heard raucous giggles as her 3 friends come tumbling into her pool house; Lunnie was wearing a bright pink one piece, Mei Xiang had a yellow bikini and Ye Ye had a sweet sailor suit inspired swim suit.
‘Come, come, ladies! Grab a seat and a drink!’ and Bai Yun goes to hug and kiss each sister. Ye Ye presents her with a lovely carrot cake.
‘Oooooh, I was hoping you’d make that!’ grins Mei, ‘I brought some Vietnamese spring rolls with bambo shoots.’
‘Great! So long as you do not eat, shoot and leave!’ smiles the hostess.
‘Hahahaha, aiyoh, that was a cute one,’ howls Lunnie.
‘You are really happy!’ comments Ye Ye.
‘I think it is the hormones. Post baby jollies.’
‘I thought there was post baby blues?’ asked Ye Ye quizzically.
Bai laughs and she puts her arm round Lun Lun, ‘Dear Ye Ye, let me present the one and only unique Panda Mama who suffers from an all time high post baby. What do the feed you there in Atlanta, girl? You have so much energy and I see poor Po…’
‘Wait wait, Po is not poor and neither is he widdle…that boy is a terror. He launches himself at me like a torpedo. That is why it is important to practise your blocking stances, my dear sisters. Ye Ye, you better learn from our in house expert Quen Bai. Next year you might need the moves.’
Mei raises her paw. ‘Am I right in thinking that you two have finally finished the Manual?’
Bai smiles and jumps up and down in girlish glee, ‘Yes, yes, Lun and I have finished the manual and video. Yun Zi helped illustrate the manual. See, here is my original Over the Head Paw Block to catch the cubby trying to sneak away and Lunnie shows her Drag and Swipe technique…’
Lun Lun holds up the tome with the words ‘Mommy Monster Manual’ in gold lettering across. The book contained sound bytes from various cubbies; Xi Lan gave the book 2 pseudo thumbs up saying, ‘Mommy Lun Lun is the best and she toughened us to handle life’ and Su Lin said,’I love how Mama can be both loving and tough on me. I hope to be just as good a Mama as she.’
Bai hands out copies to Ye Ye and Mei. Mei flips through and reads out loud,’How to sing the right songs to become a Mommy? A Panda Lady must send the right chirps so that her beau is ready….hmmm….’
‘Bai Ta Jie, may I call you for tips when it is my turn? I am must learn the correct Tail Up greeting and maybe learn new songs…’asks Ye Ye eagerly.
‘Of course, my dear sisters. We are the sisterhood of the North American Panda Ladies (PALS) and we support each other all the way,’ assure Bai.
‘In that case, can one of you come and baby sit Po? Please please please?’
‘Let me ask Yunnie, maybe he will come over and get some practise before my next cubbie comes.’
Lun Lun brings the tray of juices over. ‘Come ladies, let us drink a toast.’
‘To more cubbies!’ yells Mei.
‘Yay!’ came the chorus of agreement.
Thanks so much Jennifer. Panda love songs are more complex than I thought. This is fascinating stuff!
Moderator: when Bai Yun is finished her breeding cycle and will not be able to produce any more young; will she be able to spend her retirement in SDZ or have to go back to China? It would be very sad to loose her. Will the SDZ be getting another female when Bai Yun reaches her menopause?
Panda Team responds: We don’t know the answer to those questions at this time.
Thanks very much Jennifer for the excellent explanation of the recording. I have watched many videos of pandas mating and was always wondering which panda was making which sound and if they would alternate. Now I know!! The males sounding like sheep and females chirping like happy birds!! I am glad they understand each other…
Jennifer
Well done, now i know who to go to for my blog copywriter.
Thank you for the sound clip when I played it my 9 month old yorkie stoped and
put her face at the speaker it was so cute. I just saw the little boy and I think it looks like he has a hammock?
Fascinating! Not quite the sounds I would expect from a bear. I wonder if other bears have similar courtship bleats and chirps?
Absolutely amazing, Jennifer! Those were not the sounds that I would have attributed to pandas mating. This is so cool. Bai’s chirping sounds very similar to the baby raccoons I’ve heard calling to their Mom.
That sound bite was just fascinating, thanx so much Jennifer. I’m not sure if we can still post YouTube links, but if we can,this one is from the SDZoo page there. It has so many sounds from when Momma Bai Yun and Poppa Gao were thinking about little Zhennie. Hope you enjoy…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o8K8aGzjP4
Jennifer, thanks for allowing us to hear the sweet love-calls between Bai and Gao. It’s a real treat for us, panda lovers.
That is so fascinating and amazing to be able to record the mating calls! You all are doing a such a wonderful job of keeping us informed and ‘in the loop’. We ‘the insiders’ appreciate all the work you do to keep them healthy and safe. Keep up the good work! Haven’t been on here in quite a long while and am very happy to be able to read all the blogs (even if they are old!) Many thanks!
Moderator’s note: Welcome back, Michelinah!
I loved listening to their Bleeps and Chirps. Thank you for letting us become more intimate with our beloved black and whites!
What a great post! Thanks for this new information and the audio!!!!
Carol
Thanks for the sharing this with us. I too am hoping for a girl this time but really I am just hoping for another cub!
Bai needs to rest up for the possible birth of another cub. She has the next few months to get ready for it.
Wow! Never would have guessed those were panda sounds. Thanks for sharing this fabulous information and sound clip.
Ah the sweet sound of panda love. Fascinating indeed. Thanks Jennifer and everyone at SDZ.
Has Miss Bai and Mister Gao seen each other through the gates just casually, in passing? If not, seems a bit of a shame, since they have so much history and children together, they can’t visit once in a while, other than on their special “dates.” I wonder what they’d say to each other on just an ordinary day, when no mating was involved….
Aah, sweet love…
Moderator’s note: They haven’t seen each other recently, as Bai Yun is now in the North Exhibit, where she can enjoy “me” time.
GG: Honey, are you ready for the Spring Salsa? I have a cosage for you.
BY: Thanks, dear. I am getting ready. Soon Soon.
GG: Honey, are you ready? I have some chocolate covered bon bons for you.
BY: Thanks, dear. Please be patient, I am getting ready. Soon Soon.
GG: (Sings) You ask how much I love you……
BY: Oooooh, Gao, I love you too. I am getting ready, sooon soooooon.
GG: Mei Gui, Mei Gui (Rose, Rose)…..
BY: Hee Hee, one of my favourite songs, please be patient, I am almost ready.
GG sprays the air with l’eau du cinnamon.
BY: (Sniffs the air) Ahhhhhh, my favourite scent! I love that smell, I can’t wait to anoint myself with that scent.
GG does his one handed hand stands. He does them for quite some time.
BY: Oooooh, darling, you are soooooo strong…..and so handsome…..I love you….soooon soooon.
GG grabs a few stalks of boo and chomps on them.
GG: I was born ready, darling. Take your time. I will be here waiting for you.
BY comes by and she gives the tails up signal.
BY: Sweetie, time to salsa!
GG: You look as beautiful as ever. Ready, Get set…..
BY and GG: Go! Hee Hee.
Amd like a young pair of teenagers, they start dancing!
Great story Lucilla!!
Wow even the apes now have the new cam. What a different it makes.
Hope the pandas get the same new equipment soon too!
Thanks, Jennifer for the blog and the sounds. The two were really having quite a conversation. I love the pix of Queen Bai used on this blog. She is smiling a Mona Lisa smile; she is a happy lady bear with a possible bun in the oven.
Hi, you all! Wonder where I have been lately? Busy! Had alot of things I had to do, checked pandacams, and now I am monitoring 2 eaglecams from different areas of 2 countries–USA and Canada. First the pandas. I did check the Memphis Zoo website blogs for any new updates from the panda keepers there, and nothing new about Ya Ya and Le Le yet. Will keep checking MZ for that great news of Ya Ya going into estrus cycle. At NZ, no new update about Mei Xiang and her gestation time. She’s doing her thing of eating and napping. Tian Tian is also eating and napping, but he is eating his boo with gusto! Such a happy guy! Read the last couple of updates from AZ, and Po is really starting to get some independence from his mom, Lun Lun! When the keepers want to get Lun and Po to another part of the building, Lun will get to the door, give a vocal to her son to follow, but Po doesn’t follow her! Then, Lun would chase him, grab and pick him up, put him down by the door, and Po would run off again! Keepers said that this would go on for about 5 minutes before Po got the message. That’s one milestone! The other one is that Po is starting to eat a little bit of banana, apple, and biscuit. He hasn’t really started to eat the bamboo yet, but he just loves to play with it. Po and Lun also love to have their playtimes together. They will play their games of Po climbing to the top of the log structure and Mommie Monster pulling him off to the floor, and they also have their wrestling matches. Po has FINALLY managed to get his climbing skills up to where he can climb up to the top log and take his naps there. Saw Po on the AZ pandacam, and he was in a room with a platform. He had a boo stalk in his mouth and crawled under that platform to get away from mom! Funny!! Keepers and vets managed to get some measurements on Po on April 20th, so here they are: Nose to tail 85.5cm=34 inches; tail 8cm=3 inches; neck 38.5cm=15 inches; chest 49 cm=19 inches; abdominal 53 cm=21 inches; weight 9.5 kg=21 inches. Po has finally broken that 20 pound mark! Plus, he was very wiggly when they took these numbers, so they are pretty good approximations. As you can see, Po has done some growing over the last month since they last took his measurements. He’s a happy little guy, tho!
Been checking the SDZ pandacams, too! Sometimes it’s Gao, sometimes it’s Bai, sometimes it’s Yunnie. They are all looking pretty good to me. Going to keep track of Bai’s gestation days after her 3rd mating with Gao, but will wait awhile since it is very early.
Like I said, I have been looking in on 2 eaglecams located in Iowa and Canada. Both are showing baby eagles! The Iowa nest has 3 baby eagles that are a little over a month old and growing like crazy; the nest in west Canada has 2 baby eagles that are about 10 days old now. They are very cute, and both sets of parents are doing very good jobs feeding and taking care of them.
Finally, my prayers and condolences go out to everyone in almost 11 states that have been seriously affected by the wild severe thunderstorms and tornadoes this whole week, Alabama and Mississippi especially. Hope all of the pandafans in all of those states were able to get thru those storms in good shape and without injuries. Let us know how you all are, ok? Just want you to be safe and secure, plus be able to get on the pandacams if you have electricity.
Gonna go for now. Will be back later on.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Interesting sound byte! I hope that everyone has a great weekend!
Thanks so much for sharing that. Really cool to listen to. My sister’s dog, Sarge, enjoys watching the pandas, and now, he will have a blast, listening to them.
Thanks so much for sharing that. I love watching Bai Yun on the Panda Cam, but it was so cool to be able to hear her as well
Let’s see if we will enjoy watching her being the first class ‘mom’ again. What a pleasure.