Yun Zi takes a trek of his own!
While we’re all anxious and excited for Panda Trek to be completed here at the San Diego Zoo, it’s waiting time here at the Giant Panda Research Station. The weather’s been unseasonably warm and humid for San Diego, and the construction continues.
Panda Trek is taking shape. Day by day, week by week, the structures and enclosures are taking form. It’s going to be exciting to see it and the resident creatures all come together. In the meantime, the takins, a red panda, and the vipers can still be seen in their current enclosures around the Zoo. When the time comes, they can easily be moved into their new homes, since these will be pristine exhibits previously unoccupied by any other animals. This will eliminate the need for any quarantine time; remember when Bai Yun and Shi Shi moved into their new homes nearly 15 years ago? The areas will sit ready and waiting for their new “homeowners.”
The weather has been warm, but each bear has the option of retreating in an air-conditioned bedroom, resting under misters, or enjoying a dip in the pool or a pile of ice, and our animal care staff and panda narrators monitor the pandas’ behavior at all times. Gao Gao stayed in his indoor/outdoor bedroom suite within the research station for several days, keeping cool and comfortable.
Giving Yun Zi access to both sides of the main viewing area has given him an enriching experience; all those interesting “Gao” smells to check out and a space to revisit and expand his horizons. And Bai Yun, with her shortened hours in the North Exhibit, has access to both the outdoor space and her suite. She tends to eat outdoors, then retreats to the AC to nap, so visitors may or may not see her outdoors, depending on HER personal schedule. As of July 5, there are no indications of a pregnancy, although based on the calendar, and nothing else, she’s being “ultrasounded” twice a week now. Again, it’s about the time of year and her past history of birth times, no other reason. Yet we’re also waiting for any signs of a possible pregnancy, should they appear. As always, the Queen is in charge!
This week’s earlier events have proven no challenge to our pandas (see post Our Pandas are Fine). Today, the debris has been cleared, the area cleaned, and the pandas were napping peacefully through the morning. We’re still playing “musical bears,” moving them among exhibits as construction demands, but they are shifting with ease. The bears are alright!
Dragons and acrobats abound during Nightime Zoo: China Celebration in anticipation of our expanded Trek. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding; good things are worth waiting for. And hooray! Su Lin has given birth! We’re all “grandpandas” again, and Gao Gao’s important genetics have been passed to a new generation of giant pandas!
Ellie Rosenbaum is a panda narrator and educator at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Yun Zi Rolls On.
Thanks for the update of the fabulous Yun/Gao family Ellie. It is so nice to hear that the pandas were not bothered at all by the activity and fire yesterday. We all know that Queen Bai is totally in charge of whatever will happen later this summer so that is not a big concern to me. I really believe that Bai, Hua Mei and now Su Lin have proved that when they see a guy that a little one (or two) are soon to follow. We just have to wait. The waiting is the hard part
I’m glad to hear they are doing well!
I was curious about when the high def cameras will be launched? Are things going according to plan with that?
Moderator’s note: Our plan is to launch the new cameras when Panda Trek opens.
I’m not looking forward to the new cams because they dont work on my computer. I cant watch the polar bears, elephants or the ape cam, so I will be pretty bummed out.
Contact your computer guru—or find one among friends, neighbors, co-workers, family,etc. Perhaps there is a way to make things work. I am a computer illiterate, but have a fine son who shares my home with me—and he is a Space Cadet-computer nut. I always got the cams for all of the animals, and the changes have never left me without cams to watch. Perhaps there is a small adjustment needed, or something that can be purchased (inexpensively) to fix the problem. Whenever my son upgrades on his computer he gives me the stuff he had more advanced than mine, and he is a whiz at finding things at yard sales and such for next to nothing, and when he sets up a new system for friends and such they ususally give him what they had—-he passes it on, making it cheap.
There should never be a day in the world that we cannot watch our beloved Pandas. I FEEL like Bai is about to “GIFT” us again, with a big surprise….and you cannot miss any of that. So on the hunt you go, find the help you need, cheap, and get your fill of Panda Watching every day. Please let us know how the hunt goes. (My daughter found her “Guru” online–I guess somebody she knew, knew somebody—etc.) Love Grammmie
If anyone finds a solution to not being able to view the HD live cams, please post it?
I’m on a 2-year old MacBookPro with upgraded system software and flash player. But I can’t view the new HD live cams for the apes, elephants and polar bears. I see a brief image as the camera loads up and then it fades to black.
I’d be so sad if I couldn’t watch the pandas.
Moderator’s note: Our Cam provider offers the following suggestion:
With certain macbook models, there seems to be an issue between the adobe flash player and the mac video driver. The work-around for that problem is thankfully simple: just right click on the black screen (after it fades to black) and select flash player settings. Make sure the box called “Enable hardware acceleration” is un-checked. Then close the browser and re-open it. If it still doesn’t work, reboot the mac and then try; sometimes a reboot is needed for the setting change to “stick.” Please let us know if this worked for you!
Moderator – Thanks so much. That worked for me! Very happy to know that I’ll still be able to get my panda fix after you switch to the HD cams.
Moderator’s note: I’m so glad!! We hate for anyone to miss out on watching these beautiful animals.
Thanks very much for this update. We will be waiting for Bai Yun with great anticipation… No pressure!!
Nothing is too good for SDZ pandas! Crank up that AC:)
I love it that Queen Bai has a “suite”–of course she does!!!
Frances—Bai has a fully functioning SPA for Her pre-dleivery time. The week after her date with Gao Gao she had all of the America Residential Panda Ladies over for a spa day, and confessed she thinks she is pregnant again…..she was still blushing. All of the Ladies tried to teach the Tennessee Lady the proper songs to sing, the dance-and especially tail raising so that she can have her own bundle of joy asap. There is no place like a spa for a day like that. They all wore different colors of bikinis, and hit the “BOO JUICE” hard—that has to be a SPA. Perhaps Lucilla can help you find the posting??? Love Grammmie
Appreciate the update, Eliie, that all is well! Happy to hear the pandas are comfortable in the summer heat. I’m so hoping that the Panda Trek will remain on schedule and open by the end of the month ~ B&W Overnight on the 30th!!
Mama Bai will be ready when she’s ready; and we will all wait ~ and try to be patient
Dear Ellie—Just a quick question from a person with snake phobia. Are the Vipers to be housed where they can be avoided easily by sillies like me who have to turn the page of a magazine—or cannot completely watch a movie with a snake/snakes in it???? My policy is To all snakes, you live where you live and I will stay in my home……but when Pandas are involved I just have to leave the house to be in theier presences. I remember that a golen colored snake was put in a class enclosure right in the path of a jungle trail several years ago. When I went to the zoo I had to be led past it with my eyes closed, and missed whatever was on the other side of the path. There was no way around it with my eyes open, even on the roadway. I hope us Phobics are given a break—we will do the same for others with different phobias—-we are very understanding. We figure it this way—anyone can have any phobia, we do not get to choose these things.
I am sure that the Pandas have healthy fears of things that can hurt them, but they are bigger, stronger, faster and better looking than me. Thank You for any information….Love Grammmie (This is not an Anti-Any Animal posting–we all have a place on this earth—I just choose to share mine excluding a few that frighten me excessively.)
Dearest Doxiemom
I just found this link 01-14-2011 Dat’s MY Pool Toy, Mommie (Flickr video)
(here is the link in case anybody else missed it)http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandalover19/5355710578/ , and want to thank you for providing it. It was in answer to a post by
Diana S
Posted January 14, 2011 at 1:40 PM
I was in a nursing Home, Ill and with no computer, but would have missed it if not for you and Diana S Talk about a Surting contest—-first it is the Battle For The Board—Then Show Off Surfing Comes Later. I decided today that the archives are great, but if I want to see and read everything that maybe I should just save them in my own files, with strict instructions to my kids saying that they are to be saved every day for me until I can save them again, when I cannot get to the computer for a day or two. Thank You and the Cmera Operator at the time,,,,,,I love it….Love Grammmie
7:15 am EDT- Mei all curled up in her nest asleep- both cameras on her. The waiting continues…in DC.
I am so full of hope for Mei. I check my computer so many times each day hoping for a cub to be born. According to my figures she is at day 166 of a possible 185 day cycle…the range being 90-185 according to NZ. Let us all hope and pray for a birth SOON!
Did Mei Xiang have her cub? I tuned in to the cam this morning and it looked like she was clutching something close to her chest and the cam kept zooming in close but I couldn’t see it. Is it true?
No, KJJ, Mei hasn’t had her cub YET! But, she is still denning up in her den and still being restless. She is still licking her paws and AG area, and keeps a very close watch on that AG area. She has hugged her kong toy and big ball, napped a whole lot, and ate very little much less drink any water. As of 2am EDT tonite, she is still in her den. Mei did go out of the den earlier today to eat some bamboo, but she wasn’t out long and was back in her den after she ate. So, the Mei watch continues! New update about Mei is on the NZ panda page dated July 13. Should have a new update about her hormone levels in a few days after the vets were able to get a decent urine sample from Mei for analysis. So, keep watching, hoping, praying! We’ll know soon enough from Mei Xiang! She is in charge of all of this after all!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Bai and Mei are keeping us checking, checking and checking some more.
Yun Zi has a number of videos from Doxie Mom, and they are wows! I go back and back to even the health visits to see again how yunnie has grown and developed. He is a remarkable bear,and my favorites are the videos where he is solving his problems. How smart is he! And Queen Mom, she is a concerned mom but allows him room to grow. Unless she is discipling him and that is really fun to watch. All hail to the videos and Rita’s flickers. How lucky we are!
Ellie: I love this quote of yours “As always, the Queen is in charge!”
How true is that!!!. We will wait anxiously for news, finger crossed of course, but in all fairness we should only be slightly disappointed if our “QUEEN” is not with cub. She has given us so much over the years to be thankful for.
Grammie -
From what I’ve seen of the plans and the site, there should be animals to see on both sides of the trek pathway —- but give snakes a chance. No one was more snake-phoblic than me when I began working here many years ago, but it was necessary that I learn to handle and interpret them for visitors. So, as they say, I “sucked it up” and did — and guess what? I’ve deveolpd not only an appreciation but an affection for our scaley friends, as I moved into their care and feeding in the Ed. department. Check out my blog on our beautiful Australian womas – as a convert, I’m also a cheerleader for herps. Slither on!
I dont know what to do,,if i ever get to sdz i will think twice about visiting with the pandas (they are my favorite,favorite,,,with polar bears coming in 2nd) because if the s-n-a-k-e-s are there….. i am sooooo phobic of these….Im with Grammie on this!!!
Moderator’s note: These beautiful snakes will be in a sealed, not open, enclosure that will be on one side of the 10-foot-wide walking path. You can certainly avoid them if you want to, but I think they are worth admiring, as so few zoos have them and so little is known about them. And to think pandas have known about them all along!
Rhoda—Thank you for your understanding.
Moderator–thank you for the information.
To all—as I stated the post was not anti any animal….but at the age of 65, my Chronic illnesses and pill taking take up too much time for me to ever see myself getting over my phobia. I finally gained the courage to pick up a snake my older brothers had captured, and was bitten. It was not anybody’s fault, and the snake was just being a snake, but I have adopted a “you live your life-I will live mine-separate but equal” pose and see no reason to fool with it now. It had to be over 54 years ago since it happened before I left Canada permanently. Thank you everyone.
Moderator! Is the Polar Bear cam not working this morning. i can see a little evidence of the snow but the circle keeps spinning and does not give a live picture. I know this is slightly off the panda blog, but am concerned.
Moderator’s note: It seems to be working now (9:01 a.m.)
Indeed it is. Thank you.
I will surely be there via pandacam to watch Yun Zi having his birthday fun&frolics!! cake&treats (PS– Between Queen Bai and Mei, all my wishing goes to them– both but more Mei, she hasnt had a cub since Tai,(166 days already)she’s due.. As for Queen Bai, we know shes a cub-maker…paws-crossed…
I can’t believe Su Lin is a mommy – it seems like she was just a baby herself! I’m sure she’ll be a superstar just like Bai and Hua Mei. I’m keeping all my fingers crossed for new babies in D.C. and San Diego. The world needs more pandas!
Congratuations, dear, sweet Su Lin… new momma….
Congrats to the whole Gao family!!
Much love,
Auntie Kat
Congratulations to Su Lin on the birth of her cub. Sorry to hear about the other cub. That gets me to thinking. How is Zhen Zhen doing. Has she given birth yet.
THE CHRONICLES OF YUN ZI
CAST:
YUN ZI!
WITH THE STARS
BAI YUN
GAO GAO
AND KEEPER KATHY!
During the intermission between posts, Bai Yun decided to get BooCast Cable, complete with on demand, including PawFinity, and Yun Zi is now hooked on Whale Wars and can’t wait for each and every Friday
Our story begins with our favorite little panda sitting in front of the TV, watching a brand new episode of Whale Wars, crying his eyes out.
BY:Yunior, what’s wrong?
YZ:(gasps deeply)Three Norweigan explorers died, and the Sea Shepherds tried so hard to find them!
BY:Oh, sweetheart, were there any that survived?
YZ: Yes, two, (gasps deeply again) the ones on land. And they had such a cool little boat, the Berserk.
Gao Gao sashays into the habitat.
GG:Why are you hooked on that show anyway? What happens on the opposite side of the world is no concern of us here.
YZ: Father, the Sea Shepherds are a group of nice hoomans based up in Washington, and the people killing whales are the Japanese, the arch rivals of the Chinese! Now are you concerned?
GG:Does China kill whales? Let me know when they start doing that. Yes, Japan is doing something very evil, but what can you do? It’s time for dinner. I made boo chow mein.
After quite an uneventful dinner, Yunior sits down at his BooBook to write a letter to the nice hoomans at Sea Shepherd.
Dear hoomans at Sea Shepherd, what you are doing is very nice. I don’t like it when hoomans kill animals, especially innocent ones like me and my family. It’s a shame that you couldn’t save all the explorers. But at least you were able to help find two of them. I am a huge fan of Whale Wars, and I watch it every week. I love you hoomans at Sea Shepherd. Sincerely, Yunior.
GG: What are you writing, Yun Zi?
YZ: I’m writing a letter to the hoomans at Sea Shepherd.
BY: Yunior, how are they going to understand it? They can’t speak giant panda.
YZ: I’m not stupid. I’ll give it to the red panda, who will translate it for the spider monkey, who will translate it into hooman language, then give it to the turtles that are going to Tacoma. They can get the note then.
TBC
Thank you Joe from Illinois—I join Yun Zi to watch Whale Wars whenever I can. It has been a long time since I have sem a comment from you. Never a dull moment in the Black and White animal shows, and Blogs. Love Grammmie
Moderator: When viewing a blog, the screen is split in two, and other blogs are displayed on the right hand side. Just wondering if a change was made?
Moderator’s note: Yes, we changed the format a while back and included the current blogs on the right so it’s easier to see what’s new.
It appears that when viewing “PANDAS: WAITING” that all the blogs and comments are displayed, one after another. All other blogs display just fine.
The Pandas are enjoying their PENTHOUSE suites …. including spa’s, hot tubs and gourmet foods …. living the life large in first class accommodations …. great job Panda team ..