Bai Yun
May 16 to 22, 2011, is Bear Awareness Week, and we hope you’ll join us in celebrating these amazing animals. Today we focus on giant pandas.
Unfortunately for the giant panda, human impact has caused major fragmentation of their habitat. Giant pandas in the Qionglai mountain range have suffered greatly; isolated fragments of their habitat contain very few individuals. Originally, giant pandas ranged through the lowlands of southern China, northern Vietnam, and northern Myanmar. They are solitary animals for a majority of the year, except during the breeding season, March to May. Each giant panda requires a great amount of habitat, and in some cases that can be up to 100 square miles (260 square kilometers).
Bamboo is their primary food source, and depending on the species of bamboo they will consume either its leaves or culm. Giant pandas require the consumption of bamboo for their internal organs to function correctly. As the bamboo passes through their intestinal tract, it cleans the mucus that lines the tract for protection from being punctured by the bamboo. If the mucus is not cleaned regularly, then the animal will become extremely ill and suffer other complications. The nutritional value of the bamboo is very low, resulting in the need for an adult giant panda to eat up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms) of bamboo a day. Fortunately, bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth and can grow up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) per day and reach heights over 100 feet (30 meters). The habitat that a giant panda lives in needs to contain multiple species of bamboo; when a species of bamboo flowers, all of it dies off at once. This process only happens every 30 to 60 years, but in the early 1980s, three species of bamboo flowered at the same time in the giant panda habitat, resulting in the loss of hundreds of wild pandas. As you can see, plentiful habitat is essential for these bears to successfully forage and get enough bamboo year after year.
Today, giant pandas are isolated to 24 populations that span 6 mountain ranges at the base of the Tibetan plateau. It has been shown that these isolated populations are increasing in size, but there are going to be long-term effects resulting from the lack of dispersal between these populations. Habitat between the reserves is not currently protected, and it is believed that approximately 40 percent of the giant panda population resides in these corridors. In the unprotected habitat, the landscape is constantly subjected to the development of roads, agriculture expansion, and fuelwood collection.
Now that giant pandas have been isolated to reserves, researchers have begun to look at how temporal changes will affect their habitat. In 2007, researchers performed a focused study on the Wolong Nature Reserve in Sichuan, China. The connectivity outside the reserve diminished between 1965 and 2001 due to the loss of giant panda habitat inside and outside of the reserve. Although there was a slight increase in connectivity between 1997 and 2001, it was not great enough to negate the current loss of habitat. Much of the loss was due to the collection of fuelwood. Over three decades (1970 to 2000) the people of China have begun to collect fuelwood from higher and higher elevations, collecting this resource in valuable giant panda habitat.
Natural disasters also have a large-scale impact on how a habitat may become fragmented. On May 12, 2008, the Wolong Nature Reserve suffered a 7.9-magnitude earthquake; it collapsed entire canyons by bringing down mountainsides and diverted rivers to alternate paths. There is great concern that between the natural disaster and extensive post-human activities of reconstruction, the Wolong Nature Reserve will become even more fragmented.
Overall, giant pandas have been greatly impacted by fragmentation through logging for fuelwood, agriculture needs, and an earthquake. These impacts are not going to resolve anytime soon, and long-term management of this endangered species is going to be a necessity. By expanding reserves in China, continuing long-term research, and educating the public with our developing knowledge of the giant panda’s needs, their future will continue to improve.
Jennifer Keating is a research scientist for the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research. Read her previous post, Sounds of Panda Breeding.
Read more about San Diego Zoo Global’s conservation work with bears…
Update for bear lovers: Our brown bears will be receiving “snow” this weekend. Come watch them enjoy the cold stuff!
Wonderful posting about these beautiful animals. Really appreciate all the
information. I wonder if eventually there will be attempts at mating between
the different reserves in China to help with diversification.
Lucky for the Panda’s that there are great places like the SDZ looking out for our black and white friends and educating us on the effects that man and nature is having on the wild pandas. Wish we can save all of them. Our Panda’s are lucky enough to have caring staff to take care of them and help to repopulate them in a safe environment. Our captive panda’s are the lucky ones, some might not see it that way, some believe that they should be able to roam free in their natural environment but man is destroying it for them.
Thanks again SDZ and all that take care of our friends. The world would be a much worse place without them.
I enjoy watching them each day!
I have picked out 2 wonderful pictures of Yun Zi and Bai Yun and getting a bracelet tattoo with their pictures linked around my wrist.
Great blog Jennifer. Do you think China will ‘give’ more land for the reserves or is it something that will have to be bought, either by donations or whatever?
The outside of China zoos are doing a wonderful job in breeding and raising pandas and that should help more people around the world see and be aware of their plight. The more people that know mean the more people that can help this magnificant bear.
Wonder if anyone else has noticed that Po has been having the same “pesky foot” problem as his siblings had. Just when he’s getting all curled up on the log to take a nice long nap, that pesky back foot just pops out and he has to change position again. Sometimes, it takes a lot of work to get a decent nap.
Have any of you at our San Diego Zoo’s Giant Panda area, heard how our girls Su Lin and Zhen Zhen are doing out in China? I would be pleased to hear about them and their new life out there. Thanks much.
Moderator’s note: From what we hear, they are doing great!
Su lin is pregnant. Heard that she is one of the candidates under consideration for the transition program. In the program, the mother will raise her cub in a semi-wild environment under surveillence. Currently CaoCao is raising her son Taotao in such an environment, relying less and less on the keepers to provide them food.
Panda Team responds: We know she bred, but we won’t know if she’s pregnant until she has cubs.
I saw Zhen Zhen earlier this month on a trip to Bifengxia. She looked great, eating her bamboo and enjoying life. She had her back to the visitors, but did turn around and give us a “smile” at one point. I went back to see her again about 30-45 minutes later and she was walking to the far side of he enclosure (they are quite spacious) on a well walked path, and up she went into the top of a tree for a nap. I had heard Su Lin was there at that reserve, but in the breeding program. Hua Mei was at another location not open to visitors and was not able to get any update on Mei Shen (I was working through an interpreter).
Shirley, don’t forget that you can see Zhennie live in China every day. She’s very often on the “Tai Shan Cam,” as is Fu Long from Vienna. We even get close-ups!
The cam is here:
http://home (dot) comcast (dot) net/~dreidel/other_stuff/funstuff/TaiShanWebCam.html
While experiencing a sleepless night, I found a set of pictures of Zhen Zhen playing in a late March snowfall. There’s also pictures of Tai Shan and Fu Long. Go to Pandasliveon – on right side of page, scroll down menu (pretty far down) to Pandas In China – click on Bifengxia Panda Base. On that page click on English (upper right corner). On the translation page, scroll down to Return Panda – click on 1st story “Snowing March”. First pics are of kindergarten cubs, then comes several of Zhen Zhen, being….Zhen Zhen! Then comes a couple each of Tai Shan And Fu Long. Great pics of Zhennie, getting to experience real snowfall! So cute….that sweet face. I still miss them all.
Dianne, thank you so much for the tip on the photos of ZZ in the snow from last March. The photos are great (all of them) and I loved the description of Zhen Zhen that said, “It looks completely like a crazy girl.” I laughed so hard when I read that. I’ve now got the page bookmarked. Thanks again, Dianne.
@pandafan-north: FYI: there is also a web-site with cam, with the camera aimed at 2 yards…the yard farthest from cam is Zhennie…the yard in foreground is Fu Long. Of course, you can only watch it here at night. And it is not like the cams in the states. The cam “clicks” every 6 (or so) seconds, rather like “clay-mation”, but at least you can see Zhennie…live! www(dot)kepu(dot)net(dot)cn(slash)gb(slash)practicecenter(slash)201001 02 dw(slash)wz(slash)gc(slash)index(dot)html. (Be sure you click on English for translation.) I think this must be a test site for China Web. Sure wish PI would complete the Tai Shan cam, but may soon!
Thank you for all this information about our wonderful Pandas. I love watching Yun Zi, Bai Yun and Gao Gao.
Loving pandas is what we need in our world right now and i think every one should go green and start saving this wonderful world we have i have a plan and it is starting today and the plan is to save the world as of right now cause soon life is going to be harder but we all know animals need our help right now millons of animal are being torchered and killed so lets STOP and start saving our world:)
Thank you for the blog. More people need to know how indanger they are.
At least the ones in zoo’s around the world are safe and well taken care of. I am
always telling my friend what a great place the San Diego Zoo is. I’ve been there
3 time in the las t 10 months and will be back for sure in Sept, and March for sure. The care that is given to all the animals there is amazing. Again thank you for the information on the panda. Just love them
lu from no calif
San Diego Zoo and other zoos and reserves seem so alone in this plight. My heart hurts. I wish I could do something big to help. It almost seems like a lost cause, panda’s underpopulation due to the world’s overpopulation of humans. So, so very sad, losing all these beautiful species…. pandas, polar bears, the list is endless.
Thank you, San Diego Zoo for doing what you do. Bring light to an otherwise gloomy situation. The panda team has to feel very, very special every single day to have this important purpose on the planet, to have these amazing animals in your charge. To do everything that is possible to keep them alive and growing in number. You are God’s special guardians.
Thank you so much.
Moderator’s note: Don’t despair, kat. You CAN do something to help by joining the San Diego Zoo’s Global Action Team!
Dear Moderator-I AM part of the Global Action Team! 3 cheers!
I will continue taking baby steps til they do add up to one big one someday, to help save our beloved animals…
Thanks so much for the personal reply!!!! Made my day!
/kat
I wonder when the pandas and polar bears will be getting their snow days? Let us know when you know, ok? Will just love watching them on the panda and polar bear cams playing in all of that snow!
Read the article, and this is coming in right at the right time just before this Sunday’s Wild Kingdom program, “Pandamania”, on Animal Planet. Once everybody sees that program, this should give all of us a much clearer understanding of what the people of China are doing to try to keep the wild pandas as well as the captive pandas going and thriving. A very good article, Jennifer!
Didn’t get too much of a chance to get on all of the pandacams, but I did catch little Po in Atlanta napping on the top end of the log structure where his mom can’t really get to him very easily. Smart little guy! Momma Lun was eating her lunch anyway and not paying any attention to him. It’s amazing how well a panda cub can get comfy in some of the most uncomfortable spots for naps!
There’s a brand new update about Mei Xiang on the National Zoo website’s panda page that was posted this week. Found out about it on my Facebook page. Haven’t read it yet, but should be interesting!
Well, gonna go for now. Will try to get on the pandacams tomorrow.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
‘MAMA! MAMA! Guess what PNN just reported? Uncle Po’s Premiere is going to be a global event! In all the countwies that have pannas, the film will premiere at the same time,’ yells Yunnie as he trots into the room.
Bai Yun is reclining in her chaise lounge reading a copy of Panda Fair. She smiles saying, ‘The premiere he invited us to is just for all the Panda families outside China. Our friends from Japan, HK, Macau, Adelaide, Mexico, Spain, Thailand and Austria are all flying in. All the Pandas from within USA will fly and drive in. Pawmann’s Chinese Theatre will be filled to the rafters and it will be pandemonium! Ha Ha Ha!’
‘What about HUa Mei Jie Jie and my nieces and nephews? Or Mei Sheng Ge Ge? Susie and Zi ZI, Fu Long, Tai Ge Ge and Mei Lan? Won’t I get to see them too?’ asks a worried Yun Zi.
‘Would Uncle Po miss them out? He was just on the phone just now and he has managed to arrange for them to come in one private jet. Wooo Hoo, great isn’t it to have such a special relative?’
‘Hee Hee, Uncle Po wants Wee Po to be at a special Press Conference. Wee Po is worried he will do poopy when he is facing all the cameras! Hahaha!’
‘What about Madrid Po? Will he get to be at the inteview too?’ asks Bai.
Yun Zi thinks and suddenly he remembers, ‘Madrid Po will be at the Press Conference in Spanish as he is so fluent now. Uncle Po needs a translator. In China, Jie Jie Hua Mei will help him when he does press there.’
‘Imagine my girl helping in international relationships. See how important it is to be bilingual. Gao Yun ZI! You better brush up on your Chinese and make me proud.’
‘Mama, wo hui jiang hua yu. Ning mei ting tao er yi (I know how to speak Chinese. You have not heard me that’s all.). Hee Hee!’ giggles Yun Zi.
‘Wah, bu zhua. Ni yao du hao hao. (Not bad. You must study hard.)’ replies Bai Yun whose face softens into a smile as she thinks of her dear Mama, still alive in China.
‘Mama!’
‘Yes?’ Bai breaks out of her revelry.
‘Shall I organize a Panda Black and White Ball so that we can come together to raise money for the poor hoomans affected by the floods of the Mississippi or the Japanese?’ asks Yun Zi.
‘Black and White Ball?’
‘Ya, we will have a concert with the Panda Grrrls. The 4 Panda Tenors can sing too. And Mama, you can do an aria from the Butterfly Lovers. Auntie Mei Xiang can do the traditional Chinese fan dance with Auntie Ye Ye. And Auntie Lunnie can do acrobatics with Auntie Lin Hui. And we will auction off art pieces by Xi Lan and…’
‘Looks like you hae thought this through…’
‘Well, Mama, I thought we can do some good and help the hoomans and maybe some money can go to Panda Research. I want to do research in how boo affects panda reproduction, ‘ Yun Zi says with the most innocent of smiles.
‘Come here, young man!’
‘Nope. I am off. I need to redecorate my loft in case Miss Panda Universe drops by. And I pwomised Unka Po that I would decorate the theatre for the Premiere so I need to get inspired.’
And away he trots as quick as can be. Bai Yun settles down and smiles as she slowly hums the first few bars of the famous aria from the legendary Chinese opera of the ill fated Butterfly Lovers.
‘
Looks like Yunnie is starting to focus on finding his Forever Princess. Guess he’s been listening to all that good advice from papa Gao.
You should see the cool toy that Po has at the Atlanta Zoo, betcha Yun Zi would love one, might help keep him out of trouble, we should buy it for him. Picture of it is in their blog
Also–keep an eye out for Lun to execute the “go get your cubbie” command to bring Po off exhibit.
Just watched her do it. Sooooo cute!!!
Po does not mind mama Lun very well – I watched as she wanted him to “shift” exhibits – it was pull Po down from the climbing structure, one minute later he was back up it. Finally it looked like he was follownig her BUT got distracted by the drinker. Mommy gave a huge sigh and dragged him in – too funny
)
This video is a good example of Lun Lun trying to execute the “go get your cubbie” command!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandalover19/5728000970/in/photostream
Sooooo funny! It’s strangely comforting to learn that panda mamas have the same prolems with their little ones as us human mommas. Thanks for sharing.
The yellow car is the bane of Lun Lun’s existence. First it belonged to Mei Lan, next we see it on videos with Xi Lan refusing to go in when his mama called him, then after she dragged him by ear and feet inside, he comes running out to play! Back she comes and tries to grab him again. She wants him INSIDE! He wants to explore the car and play. Quite a tug of war ensues.Brutal! HAHA. Adds to the fun of it -get onto the video Run Baby Run. With a chorus of tiny children laughing and screaming and frustrated mama!And Xi Lan having a wonderful time, in spite of blows from mama.
Truly not to be missed.!
Since the Gao Family seems to be doing well, I’m traveling from California to Zoo Atlanta later this week to see the Yang Family – Yang Yang, Lun Lun, Xi Lan, and Wee Lan (Po). I haven’t been to ZA since Mei Lan was still in the den. Hope the yellow car is ready to roll in the playroom and Lun Lun isn’t too rough on Po while I’m there
Moderator: Do you know if the Panda Cam is malfunctioning today? There’s a very odd looking picture on it…
Moderator’s note: It looks like a Cam tech may be working on preparations for Panda Cam to be shown in HD.
Woo-hoo! That sounds encouraging! Any idea about the timing on that — when we might expect the new cam look?
Moderator’s note: We hope to have it in place mid-June.
Thanks Jennifer for your report. Hopefully all the fragmented corridors can still be joined to allow freedom of movement for the panda population. At least it has become a topic for concern in all areas of the media. Just being made aware is a step in the right direction. And if we all continue to work on lessening our carbon footprint……….all is not lost. We must hang on to HOPE.
Hi! Just a reminder about the Wild Kingdom program this Sunday, 5/22/2011. “Pandamania” will be broadcast on Animal Planet at 7pm EDT (check your listings for broadcast times in your time zones). Hope everyone will be able to watch and enjoy it! This will be a very interesting program, and hopefully we will all be learning alot more about these black & white bears that we love & treasure so much. Unofficially, this Sunday should be declared PANDA DAY just for that program! Have fun, pandafans!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
I think that the zoo’s in the usa are better when trying to get the mating down. In china it looked to sterile of environment, no trees, just a cold cages. They seem to have alot more contact with there panda’s. I sure hope
that Su Lin had a better place to see her first mate.
Thank Chari for the heads up on the tv time.
lu from no ca
Thanks!!…. full of good information.
I wonder if this info could be also placed on the “meet the pandas” page or one of the other panda pages.
All the bear blogs have been interesting and informative. Keep up the good work.
Moderator’s note: That’s a good idea! Nice to hear you’ve enjoyed the Bear Awareness blog posts.
are the people at Bifengxia crazy? I just read that Su Lin is one of the pandas chosen for the reintroduction to the wild program! They can’t put our sweet Su Lin into the wild! She’s captive born not wild born and has had people taking care of her all her life. No way would she survive in the wild. I can’t believe they are even thinking of it. Hello, remember Xiang Xiang? I am so upset about this. And can’t believe the San Diego panda team think its a great idea. I thought they loved Su Lin.
Moderator’s note: Our Panda Team is preparing a blog post about this very topic, so please check back in a day or two.
Teresa, I totally agree with you on this. It is just wrong. First they bred her right away and now this, and yet Mei Lan has been there alot longer and nothing. My heart is breaking over this. Sad, just very sad.
Teresa, I’m sure that you are very anxious about Su Lin going on into the semi wild release program, and that’s understandable. At Wolong Reserve, the people there have established a closed, fenced in, large tract of reserve land for their semi wild release program and currently have 5 adult pandas and one cub residing in that area now. This is a far different program than the one that they tried in 2006 when they released Xiang Xiang totally into the wild area without any preparation at all. Xiang Xiang did have a tracking collar on him at the time of his release. Everyone there have learned that lesson the hard way (Xiang Xiang was killed by a possible wild male panda) and now have this new release program that will be a gradual release for the pandas instead of a one step release that they did 5 years ago. If you watched Pandamania last nite, they did mention that the people at Chengdu (and Wolong) want to do this new type of release on a step by step basis beginning with the cubs and young adult pandas. This could take years to accomplish, but they want to try and do this the right way. This may or may not work, but the Chinese are wanting to make sure that there are wild pandas in their habitats for years to come. Su Lin is just one panda among alot of other pandas that will possibly be a part of that program. Instead of worrying about these pandas, keep in mind that the purpose is to re-establish a wild population of genetically diverse pandas that will ultimately slow down and stop the possible inbreeding that may be happening with the current wild pandas due to their habitats being so badly fragmented. That’s another project that they are looking into–trying to establish panda habitat corridors that will connect these fragmented panda areas so that wild pandas can have more room to roam, meet each other during breeding season, and more availability of bamboo to eat. Hope this helps you out about this. I am looking forward to the panda team’s new article about this subject when it comes up. That will be a very interesting read about all of this.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Are they absolutely crazy or what? She’ll get killed out there, she can’t fend for herself, how is she going to be able to eat. She’s been taken care of her whole life how can they even think that she might be able to be in the wild. I’m very disappointed and hope that they re think this very insane decision. What are they thinking?
Moderator: is there somewhere on the internet that we can post of disaproval?
Moderator’s note: Please wait until you read our blog post about this very topic. Perhaps some concerns will be answered for you.
hey, I will worry about Su Lin and any other panda I have watched grow up here in the US if they put any of them into the wild. I understand that they need to return pandas to the wild but that will not work on pandas who have grown up around humans all their life, have never had to hunt for their own food. so I WILL worry! and will BLAME the Chinese if anything happens to sweet Su Lin, Zhen Zhen, Tai, Hua Mei, Mei Sheng or Mei Lan. They were all born here in the US no matter how the Chinese consider all pandas as belonging to them.
Moderator, I seem to recall having read the blog post that you mention in your note above regarding Su Lin and her participation in the semi-wild release program; however, I can’t find it again so either I was seeing things or I’ve looked in the wrong places. Can you help? Thanks.
Here it is:
Panda Team responds: All of us in the panda program are thrilled that Su Lin has been chosen as a potential contributor to China’s reintroduction program. Her inclusion is a testament to Bai Yun and Gao Gao: their temperaments, health, breeding behavior, and Bai Yun’s maternal behavior. After Hua Mei’s incredible reproductive success, no doubt all at BFX are confident that Su Lin will follow in her footsteps. And unlike Hua Mei, Su Lin may have the opportunity to raise her cub in the peace and tranquility of the forest, and for the full 18 months. That makes US so happy for Su Lin!
The more televised information about the Pandas, the more people get interested. And soon our new babies from all over the world will keep the interest flowing. How adorable are the babies! Irresistable!
Yunnie’s Blog: I Eat Shoots and Leaves, Hee Hee
Today my tux came and it fits snugly. Ooops, reminder to self: cut down on the snackies. I want to look good for Unka Po’s premiere. He told me he has already planned a fund raiser for the poor doggies and kitties in Japan as well as for pandas. After the Premiere, he is throwing a special supper theatre and he and all the actors will do stand up comedy! I can’t wait.
Unka Po said that next day he has arranged for an All Star Panda Concert at the Hollywood Bowl. J Po, Bearonzee, Black Eyed Bears and he managed to get Orpaw Bearfrey to make a guest appearance. Mama will like that as she loves watches her talk show and has appeared on it too. Mama is a superstar Panda Mama!
Wee Po called me today. He is now on show and the hoomans are taking loads of photos. Po is a little scared by the size of some of the magic black boxes. They look bigger than he. I told him to smile and wave as the nice hoomans are helping us pannas to stay alive. Wee Po wants to come over to visit. I said maybe after the Premiere and before my little brother or sister comes (I am so excited and I know the nannykeepers are also watching Mama!).
If it is a girl, I want to name her Mei Yun or Beautiful Cloud and if it is a boy I think Gao Xiong or High/Mighty Warrior. Maybe the hoomans may call the babies Bai Ling (girl) and Gao Zi (boy) and that would be nice too. Hee Hee. Jie Jie Su Lin told me she went on line and voted for my name and so did Zi Zi.
I miss them. At least they will be there at the Premiere.
Tomorrow, Papa and I are going to spend the day together, Yippeee. He is going to show me how to develop my muscles and how to do handstands! Yay! Xi Lan says his daddy does not know how. Papa says that is because Uncle Yang Yang uses AI. I asked him what is AI. Papa said I was too young to understand but Uncle Yang and Auntie Lunnie did not do the Spring Salsa. Anyways, Xi Lan is coming for the Premiere to keep Wee Po company. Wee Po is the film mascot. Cool, eh?
Someone said I looked like the Tom Cruise of Pandas? Hmmm, I thought I was more like Brad Pitt…hee hee. I wonder what my unkas and aunties think?
If Unkle Po is interested I learned that Justin Bearber might be available for the gala. I bet Ling Ping just loves him!
Dear Auntie Anne,
That would be super cool! Please please help me meet him! Thank you very much.
Panda Love,
Ping
Hi, pandafans! Hope you all got the chance to watch Wild Kingdom’s “Pandamania” last nite! It was very good and informative, and I enjoyed watching it alot. They focused on the panda breeding program at Chengdu Panda Base, Sichuan Province, China. I was hoping that they would have included Bifengxia as well because of their awesome breeding program there. But, they just concentrated on Chengdu. I was really happy that they included Mei Lan on her trip to Chengdu with Tai Shan (who was going to Bifengxia) at the beginning of the program, so I knew that this was filmed last year, 2010. It was worth watching, and I hope that Animal Planet will repeat it sometime soon.
I did read some comments that Su Lin could be chosen for the semi wild release into a special enclosed area soon. This was one of the things that Pandamania was talking about last nite. The Chinese workers at Chengdu (and at Wolong/Bifengxia) are wanting to have at least 300 pandas to sustain a captive population with the goal of some the cubs to be gradually released into the wild over a long time period. The researchers are thinking that this can be done in about 10-15 years, but that could change depending on habitat availability and how well the cubs can adapt when they get older. This will be a very interesting and important project that all of us will be monitoring and wanting updates about on a consistant basis. We already know that Wolong has established a semi wild fenced in area on a large tract of reserve land that 5 adult pandas and one cub are residing in right now. So far, the researchers and Wolong workers are happy with the outcome, and Cao Cao and her cub are doing very well there.
Well, hope to read some of your comments about Pandamania. Hope everyone enjoyed watching it as much as I did!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
‘Ooooooh, I would like to meet her….hee hee, she too….can I? COOOOL…and tomorrow I get to…..WOWIE……OK, OK, thanks Uncle Po!’ laughs Yun Zi as he hangs up on his superstar uncle.
‘MAMA!’ yells Yun ZI who turns and sees his mother ‘breakdancing’ on the platform as she self anoints with cinnamon powder, ‘Go Mama Go Mama!’
When Bai is at rest and sipping her detoxing drink, Yun Zi leans against her and shares, ‘Unka Po called.He is on the cover of every magazine and paper cos of the movie and he is so like totally cool about it. He wants to introduce me to Lucy Poo and Angelina Polie at a pre-premiere party. Wooo Hooo!’
‘Hmmm, my son is a party animal, humph!’ remarks Bai Yun not looking happy at all.
‘Hey Sweetums, a boy is a boy only once! Let him enjoy himself! He is a good boy, after all he is Son of the Gaoster, the supreme studmuffin.’
‘THAT was what I was afraid of!’ replies Bai icily.
‘Hee Hee, and I did not do too badly, did I? I married the Hero Mother of all Mothers! And a pretty nifty Salsa dancer I might add. Hee Hee,’ grins Gao Gao as he lies at Bai’s feet and gazes at her with his melting black eyes.
‘OK OK, I am fine because I know Po will watch out for him.’
‘And Po is a good guy, no drugs, no drinking or wild women….Hee Hee I taught him everything I know..YES!’ smiles Gao Gao as he offers a paw to his wife.
She rises and he then spins her around the enclosure then dips her. ‘Ma cherie amour, I will show you a good time in Hollywood or my name is not Gao Gao.’
And with that he plants a loving smooch on his lovely wife.
‘YUCKY!’ yells Yunnie laughing out loud at his romantic and much in love parents.
Does anyone know if there will be a big birthday celebration for Lin Ping coming up? Her birthday is May 27.
I hear from Weegee that yes… there definitely will be a BIG birthday celebration for her royal highness… I think maybe a parade… Mr. P, the head guy of the Panda House was talking about it one evening on the Panda Channel…
CMZ will have a 3 day celebration beginning on her birthday, May 27th. A parade is scheduled on the 28th which guests can participate in and other scheduled events will occur that day and on the 29th. If you’re able to bring up Lin Ping’s webcam, you can view her birthday celebration (on the 27th) during the early evening hours in the U.S. on May 26th.
I agree. Su Lin probably is going to have babies. She would not know what to do in the wild!! How to deal with a new environment and a baby or maybe more! Even with help from humans dressed like Pandas, the mom and baby didn’t do too well, that they watched and cared for in the wild. Let us not let China use our kids when they have a bunch of ladies of their own. Time to stand up for our kids from the Zoos. They can aclimate gradually, at best.
From what I read China as NO INTENTION OF releasing a “zoo born” panda into the wild . They are carefully choosing those to be in the program – they are hopeful that a CUB of our USA born pandas may become a candidate – that would mean SuLin CUB’S cub,
Virginia–
Cao Cao and her cub Tao Tao actually did (and are still doing) really well. You may be thinking of the panda they tried to release a few years ago.
It is hard to think of Su Lin having to fend for herself, but I don’t think it will come to that. Hopefully, she’ll have an even bigger yard and some trees to climb–and she’ll get to be with her cub until it’s 18 months old–and she’ll be taken care of all the way.
I’m looking forward to the blog from SDZ for more information.
You are correct Frances, Tao Tao and his mother Cao Cao are doing very well, according to the latest update in the following blog written in Chinese from May 23rd.
blog(dot)sina(dot)com(dot)cn/s/blog_6a7c47100100stjb.html
There is no picture in the blog, but I found a video, unfortunately it is also in Chinese but fun to watch!!
www1(dot)china(dot)com(dot)cn/v/zhuanti/panda/2011-05/20/content_22608750.htm
In the comments at the bottom of the blog, they address the status of the females that have joined the program at Hetaoping and they are all doing very well, enjoying the fresh bamboo. Interestingly, the mothers of Le Le (male) and Ying Ying (female), the young pandas in Hong Kong that may have their first cub(s) of their own soon, have moved to Hetaoping along with Su Lin. Le Le’s mother is Hai Zi, Ying Ying’s mother Xi Xi also known as Qian Qian.
Hope everyone who could saw the program on Wild Kingdom. Animal Planet. It was all about babies! All so darling and their care is outstanding, so now more people who do not know about their plight might get involved.!! I was thrilled when mama had two babies. Now we get to really see the care of exchanging the two for feeding becomes an exercise in scheduling. It was so informative,that everyone who saw it will now realize how China has devoted years to their safety. Just loved it all! I learned some things too!
Also we saw two bears who didnt know how to get started. And why some bears don’t have babies right away. They need the movies?Bai and Gao Gao should have a movie made of them. They sure know how to get busy.And their results have been exceptional-see how many babies we got!! Lunnie has a friend in Yang Yang from childhood, so they get AI. Bai learned from Kathie! Ultra Sound position.I loved that piece of info so much. Goes to show how smart she is!
wow, I have been off-line for a few days and all heck has broken loose. I am very sad to hear about Su LIn, but whatever happens I know that Bai and the SDZ keepers taught her well. I wish her and her baby (keeping fingers crossed) all the best and safe surroundings. I taped the show and will watch tonight and now with this knoweldge in my head I will probably cry.
If Bai does not have any more babies will she be sent back to China?
Makes me sick about Su Lin she is the first one we watched grow up.
Moderator’s note: Bai Yun is scheduled to stay here through 2013, per our loan agreement. It may be renegotiated at that time.
Kay, the good news is that Su Lin successfully mated several months ago, something she couldn’t do here. Also, the new “Tai Shan Cam” in China very often shows our Zhen Zhen. We even get close-ups! Find it here:
http://home(dot)comcast (dot) net/~dreidel/other_stuff/funstuff/TaiShanWebCam.html
Zhennie is in the enclosure that has a structure that looks like a wooden swing set. Also, note that these enclosures are much, much larger than those in San Diego–and it snows there! Su Lin’s enclosure is just beyond Zhennie’s, but alas, the cam doesn’t go that far.
We miss our girls, but at least we can see that they’re doing extremely well in China. Zhennie looks happy.
‘MAMA, guess what? Uncle Po has arranged for me, Xi Lan, Ping, Fu Hu and Wee Po to be in a photo shoot for Bearnity Fur, Pogue and P! AND he wants you, Aunty Lun Lun, Aunty Mei and Aunty Ye Ye to do a special with him. The 4 Great Beauties!’
‘My, that is flattering. Once Upon a Time in China, there are 4 great beauties whose loveliness managed to bring down kingdoms, cause wars and…’
‘Launch a 1000 ships?’
‘Well, something like that.’
‘Oh Mama, we all know you have perfect round ears and lovely cheeks…’
‘Auntie Lun Lun has lovely fluffy cheeks…’
‘All the Aunties are beautiful in their own way but you won Miss Panda Universe in 19…’
‘Ok OK, enough enough…don’t you dare mention the year, Mister Gao Yun ZI! Now what shall I wear?’
‘How about the green Bearlintino? Or your white toga dress by Christian Bear?’
‘Hmmm, I was thinking of something Oriental as we are from China….and I wanted to wear my emerald jade necklace that was handed down from my great grandmother.’
‘Oh Mama, you must wear the purple chinese brocade cheong sam with the loooong side split and you can wear your beaded slippers with the outfit for the photoshoot.’
‘My, you will make a good stylist, young man!’
‘Mama, I am already an interior decorator, hee hee, so why not clothing? I could do a line of clothes for red hot Mama Pandas!’
‘There are only 4 of us…’
‘I will go global!’
‘I can imagine a Mama Panda wearing a designer dress in the forests of Chengdu Mountains.’
‘Hee Hee, maybe I can use natural products like bamboo…’
‘Then they will be eaten up before long!’
‘Hee Hee, Mama, you can be my muse and open all my shows.’
‘Mama is getting too old for such nonsense. You can ask Ping or Hao Hao to model your creations. By the way, has Papa’s tux arrived?’
‘Yes, it has. He tried it on this morning and he looks really good like Beary Grant. He says he is ready to trip the light fantastic and escourt you down the red carpet.’
‘That man! He does love to cut a rug and you take after him!’
‘Mama, why thank you!’ as he snuggles up to her for a hug fest.
This morning, I was watching Bai Yun enjoying her breakfast bamboo and to my surprise, she had a beautiful “halo” above her head. I always knew that Bai Yun is a saint – now I know for certain that it is true. Soon after snapping the cam shot, Bai Yun left the exhibit but her “halo” remained on cam 28 for a while. Probably just a water spot… maybe! I’d like to share this cute photo with everyone.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdrose24/5754962283/in/photostream
It’s her lovely aura!
Love it. She deserves a halo!!
I’ve been away from the panda cam for awhile. So nice to pop-in today and see all 3 of the Pandas on cam throughout the morning. Yun Zi is getting so big! Can’t wait to see him again in August on his birthday.
Just got the Zoo News magazine about the construction! How exciting! BUT I want to bring my Mom and she is disabled, (uses a walker). I am worried about the construction…is walking a hazard now? When will construction be complete? More towards June or August?
Thanks!
Moderator’s note: We hope to have our new Panda Trek habitat open sometime in July; in the meantime, the area is fenced off, so no need to worry about any walking hazards. And our panda exhibit remains open. To see more images and video of what to expect for Panda Trek, visit our ZOONOOZ page.
Thanks for the info regarding Lin Ping. Like the US pandas I’ve followed her since her birth 2 yrs ago. She is such a delight! I love watching videos of her with her keepers. You can tell they just adore her, and I’m so glad the CM Zoo gets to keep her awhile longer.
Ya Ya, a female panda, was born at the Chengdu base on August 24, 1990. Her oldest son is Yang Yang now living at the Atlanta Zoo and father of Mei Lan, Xi Lan and Po. Her youngest daughter, Ya Yun, born on September 10, 2010 was the last cub born at the Chengdu base in 2010 and probably the last cub that Ya Ya gave birth to, she was just over 20 year old. Over the years Ya Ya gave birth to 13 cubs, 12 of them are still alive.
Seven cubs were born at the Chengdu Base in 2010. While the other mothers may give birth to other cubs soon, Ya Ya has been put in charge of teaching those seven cubs all what they need to know. I guess she is the head teacher of the finishing school for panda cubs… I read earlier that she would take care of 2 cubs at the time. Well, 7 doesn’t divide well by 2, so according to the pictures in the following blog, sometimes she has three cubs at once!! Not sure she can teach them much, but it is fun to watch…
blog(dot)sina(dot)com(dot)cn/s/blog_49246d3601017s86.html
Enjoy!!
Danielle–thanks for that link. Wow! Three cubbies crawling all over Ya Ya and nipping all at the same time, and she’s still managing to give at least one of them a bath. Must have been amazing to watch! A true hero mother.
I loved seeing Bai with her frozen cake and feeding ball today–a playday for the Queen!
But uh-oh–the cam image is rolling and fuzzy…Moderator–call cam repair!!!
Danielle: Thanks for the link — those pictures just melted my heart. Soooooooooo sweet!
Among the five female pandas that will participate in the program in Hetaoping, there is a panda called Ying Ying, of course not the same Ying Ying that is expected to give birth to her first cub(s) in Hong Kong. Ying Ying was born in the wild in 1991 and rescued in the spring of 1992 when she was only about 6 month old. She is the mother of Yang Yang, of course not the male panda in Atlanta, but of the female panda in Vienna who is the mother of Fu Long and Fu Hu. Over the years Ying Ying gave birth to 13 cubs, 12 of them are still alive, just like Ya Ya. Ying Ying gave birth to her last cub in the summer of 2009 in Bifengxia.
Dear Nannykeeepers,
How was Ms Bai pampered after winning the most votes in Wild Mom 2011 polls? Was she given a spa treatment? Extra boo and snackies? Or was it in giving her her fave scents like we saw on the cam the other day? Any pics of her enjoying your enrichments as part of her pampering?
Thanks for all you are doing in loving the pandas.
Peace,
Lucilla
Dearest Cuz Ping,
Happy Happy Birthday to my cuz in the Land of Smiles! Hope your second birthday is a fun filled one! I saw on your TV channel you have a huge birthday cake and you were woken up for a clean up by 3 volunteers and given tweats by your nannykeeper. Nice!
Are you having a party? With balloons and snackies? I hear there may be a parade. Woo Hoo! Way to go for a Panda Princess.
It was nice seeing you at Unka Po’s Premiere and hearing you will help with the movie premiere in Thailand. Maybe soon Unka Po will cast you in the next episode. I hear they are making 4 more altogether.
I am still sleepy from all the parties and I am going to have a lazy weekend.
Birthday hugs and Heartfelt Wishes,
Yunnie
Danielle, how do you get all this info? You certainly the go to gal for all things panda!
Anne, I am glad you enjoy my postings. The answer to your question: keeping good notes and information well organized. And of course, having a passion for pandas!!
Kung Fu Panda 2 just opened in New York. The Wall Street Journal film critic calls it “consistently entertaining.” There were no mention of pandas attending the premiere. I guess they don’t want to take any attention away from Yunnie’s gala.
Dear Auntie Annie,
We attended the one in LA and Unka Po held a special showing for all his panda relatives and friends. We filled the theatre as the seats were adapted for Panda sizes.
I had a tub of bamboo pop corn with butter and a chocolate covered bamboo bon bons. We partied all night. The pandarazzi covered the events surrounding the premiere. My Mama was voted Most Elegant, *SMILE* and Auntie Ya Ya was voted ‘Most Outstanding Gown’. Watch out for the next issues of Panda, P! Weekly and Bearnity Fur because they are doing special editions on the pandas at the premiere, woo hoo.
There is no price for awesomeness, indeed! Hope you will come and visit me some day!
All tired and partied out,
Yunnie
Hi! Just want to tell everyone to have a very nice Memorial Day weekend! Remember all of our veterans that have fought in all of the wars that the USA have been involved in from the Revolutionary War thru this current war against terrorism. The vets that have paid for their lives to make sure we have the freedoms that we have now and enjoy so much should never be forgotten, and the vets that are still alive and currently serving deserve alot of praise for what they are doing to keep our country safe and free. This does allow all of us to go to our local zoos and sanctuaries whenever we can to see all of the wonderful animals that are housed there, especially the pandas in San Diego, Atlanta, DC, and Memphis. Let’s count our blessings and thank our veterans for their hard work that they do for all of us.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator: can panda’s swim, Yun Zi needs a pool to stay cool, he looks hot up in his tree?
Moderator’s note: Yes, pandas can swim. If Yun Zi gets too hot, he can go into his air-conditioned bedroom.